Suspensions Announced In Chicago White Sox-Cleveland Guardians Brawl At Second Base

Major League Baseball has announced disciplinary action regarding the benches and bullpen-clearing brawl between the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox that took place at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, August 5.

White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount of money.

Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez was suspended three games and received an undisclosed fine.

Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase was suspended one game and received an undisclosed fine.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol, and Guardians manager Terry Francona were each suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount.

Guardians coach Mike Sarbaugh was suspended one game and fined.

Both White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech, and Guardians infielder Gabriel Arias were fined, but not suspended.

The melee took place when Ramirez slid into second base after hitting an RBI double.

Anderson put a tag on Ramirez, which Ramirez felt was overly aggressive. From that point, a fist-fight ensued. Benches and bullpens emptied.

Anderson and Ramirez were the main event in the 17-minute rumble. At one point, Ramirez hit Anderson with a right hook, which sent Anderson to the ground. Ramirez was responding to an Anderson punch, which didn’t harm Ramirez.

Small skirmishes followed at the pitcher’s mound, and around second base.

Ultimately, order was restored.

There had been bad blood between the White Sox and Guardians since the teams met in Chicago the week before their series in Cleveland.

It is being reported that Anderson and Cleveland’s Arias exchanged insults and banter during the previous Chicago based series, which may have led to Ramirez feeling the “hard” tag by Anderson at second base was a final action that Ramirez would not tolerate.

The White Sox went on to win two of the three games against the Guardians in the series.

The two teams are not scheduled to play again in the regular season this year. Their next meeting will likely take place in spring training next March in Arizona.