(670 The Score) Twins reliever Tyler Duffey threw behind White Sox rookie slugger Yermin Mercedes in the seventh inning of their game Tuesday, one night after Mercedes hit a home run on a 3-0 pitch in the ninth inning of a blowout that generated conversation over baseball's unwritten rules.
Duffey threw the first pitch of Mercedes' fourth at-bat of the game behind him in what appeared to be a clearly intentional act. He was ejected from the ballgame, as was Twins manager Rocco Baldelli following his argument with home plate umpire Jim Reynolds.
With the White Sox leading 15-4 on Monday night, Mercedes hit a 3-0 pitch from Twins position player Willians Astudillo for a home run. It was an act that White Sox manager Tony La Russa condemned Tuesday afternoon.
"That's just sportsmanship, respect for the game, respect for the opponent," La Russa said before the game. "He made a mistake. There will be a consequence that he has to endure here within our family.
"The fact that he's a rookie and excited does explain why he's clueless. Now he's got a clue."
In his postgame comments Tuesday, La Russa said he wasn't "suspicious" about the Twins throwing behind Mercedes one night after his homer, adding that he would've been suspicious if they threw at his head.
"I don't have a problem with how the Twins handled that," La Russa said after the game.
The White Sox led 4-2 at the time of Duffey's ejection. Mercedes drew a walk after taking a 3-0 pitch in that plate appearance. The Twins went on to win the game 5-4.