White Sox's Tim Anderson, Guardians' Jose Ramirez and four others suspended over brawl
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson and Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez were suspended by Major League Baseball on Monday, two days after they exchanged punches during Saturday's game.
Anderson received a six-game suspension and Ramirez got three games. Both players have appealed the penalties, so the suspensions will be delayed until a decision is made.
Guardians manager Terry Francona and White Sox manager Pedro Grifol were also among the six suspensions handed down as part of a bench-clearing incident during the bottom of the sixth inning.
Ramirez had objected to a hard tag from Anderson on a slide into second base and got up, pointing his finger at Anderson. The shortstop tossed down his glove and put up his fists. In the exchange, Ramirez knocked down Anderson with a right to his face.
"He tagged me really hard, more than needed, and his reaction was like, ‘I want to fight,'" Ramirez said after the game. "And if he wants to fight, I wanted to defend myself."
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As teammates separated the two, the melee appeared to die down, only to start up again, with the managers yelling at each other. The two and Guardians third base coach Mike Sarbaugh and relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase were also ejected.
Sarbaugh and Clase (who didn't appeal) also got one-game suspensions each.
White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech and Guardians infielder Gabriel Arias each received an undisclosed fine. All of suspensions included an undisclosed fine.
Clase, Grifol and Francona will serve their suspensions Monday while Sarbaugh will sit out Tuesday's game.