Fireworks in White Sox loss: Benches clear after Anderson hit by pitch
Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada and Lucas Giolito were all in the Chicago White Sox's starting lineup Wednesday afternoon, and manager Rick Renteria was stationed at his usual perch in the dugout.
None of the foursome were around when the Sox dropped a 4-3 decision to the Royals in 10 innings at Guaranteed Rate Field, for various reasons.
Let's begin with Anderson.
In the fourth inning, the White Sox's shortstop continued his torrid start to the season with a 2-run homer off Kansas City starter Brad Keller.
Before the deep drive landed in the seats well beyond the White Sox's bullpen in left field, Anderson launched his bat at his own dugout, screamed at his own dugout and circled the bases.
"I'm going to continue to be me and keep having fun," said Anderson, who is leading the American League with a .424 batting average. "Our fans, they pay their hard-earned money to come to the ballpark to see a show, so why don't I give them one?"
While he is low-key away from the field, Anderson can get fired up when things are going well, and that's why he reacted with jubilation after giving the Sox the early lead Wednesday.
"Timmy wasn't showing them up, or showing the pitcher up," Renteria said. "He was looking into our dugout, getting the guys going."
"We really value all that he does on the field, his energy, all the stuff that he does," Moncada said through a translator.
Keller and the Royals obviously do not.
On Anderson's next trip to the plate, in the sixth inning, he was drilled on the backside by Keller's first pitch.
"We've been trying to go in on him all day today," Keller said. "My command wasn't the best today. The ball got away from me. I'm not trying to put a guy on in a 2-2 ballgame in the sixth inning, especially the leadoff guy."
As Anderson headed to first base, escorted by K.C. catcher Martin Maldonado, he exchanged words with Keller and both benches emptied.
"It was a heated moment, so things happen," Anderson said. "I get it."
No punches were thrown, although Renteria and his Royals counterpart Ned Yost came close. Renteria thought everything had calmed down until the Kansas City bench reignited the flames.
"Obviously, they didn't take kindly to it," Renteria said. "They took their retaliatory position, (Anderson) took his base. You go ahead and drill the guy, well then OK, just leave it, you've already done your piece. You don't need how many guys out there chirping at him as well. Quite frankly, that was the only thing I took offense to."
Anderson, Keller, Renteria and Kansas City hitting coach Dale Sveum were ejected from the game. Sveum blamed the near brawl on Anderson.
"The ball gets away from your pitcher, you just take your base," said Sveum, who managed the Cubs in 2012-13 before being replaced by Renteria. "I'm an old-school guy. You just take your base and nothing would have happened and everything would be fine."
For some reason, crew chief Joe West decided to make the ejections after everything had calmed down for good. West declined to comment after the game, which was decided on Hunter Dozier's home run off White Sox reliever Nate Jones leading off the 10th inning.
"I didn't get into it with (West), to be honest," Renteria said. "My head wasn't in that place in that particular time. I really didn't want to get into it with Joe."
As for Moncada and Giolito, they both made early exits with injuries.
Moncada was hit in the batting helmet by a throw from Maldonado stealing second base in the fifth inning. He came out in the seventh.
"No concussion," Moncada said. "I'm good. It's just a headache right now. I'm going to be better tomorrow and I want to play tomorrow."
Giolito exited with two outs in the third inning of what was shaping up to be a strong start. He has left-hamstring tightness and is day to day.