Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Tempers flared between the Kansas City
Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday.
The benches and bullpens emptied in the top of the third inning after Royals
starter Jonathan Sanchez hit Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo directly in
the right thigh with a fastball.
Choo took exception to being thrown at and took a few steps toward the mound
while yelling at Sanchez before being restrained by home plate umpire Gary
Darling.
Choo and Sanchez already have a history, as it was a Sanchez fastball that
broke Choo's left thumb on June 24 last season and caused him to miss nearly a
month.
Both benches were warned, but the feistiness continued in the bottom of the
third inning when Indians starter Jeanmar Gomez nailed the first batter he saw
-- Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas.
Again the benches emptied and Gomez and Indians manager Manny Acta were both
ejected, as was third baseman Jack Hannahan, who felt the need to get in the
middle of proceedings despite not being originally involved.
Sanchez was pulled after just 2 2/3 innings.
The Sports Network