(670 The Score) White Sox manager Tony La Russa was incensed at the Indians after Chicago star first baseman Jose Abreu was hit in the side of the head on a fastball from Cleveland reliever James Karinchak in the bottom of the eighth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday night.
La Russa, 76, verbally took his anger out on Indians catcher Roberto Perez, charging out of the dugout at what might have been top speed for a man his age. La Russa then had to be held back by bench coach Miguel Cairo as the benches emptied, though there was no further incident.
At first, it appeared La Russa was upset that Perez helped check on Abreu after White Sox trainers had already reached him. But La Russa explained to reporters postgame that his message to Perez was that Karinchak had poor control on this night, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reported, making it dangerous to throw inside to Abreu.
Karinchak appeared devastated after hitting Abreu, immediately crouching down and appearing to apologize as well later. After being evaluated by trainers, Abreu stayed in the game and gave Karinchak an embrace on his way to first base.
Karinchak was removed from the game in a managerial decision. The White Sox went on to win 6-4, with Abreu's hit by pitch with the bases loaded giving the game its final tally.
In postgame interviews, both teams were upset. That included Indians designated hitter Franmil Reyes, who shared a warning for the White Sox.
"If any of our players get hit, this is personal," Reyes said, according to the Athletic. "I take no s*** on f******* purpose. We’re not gonna try to hit anybody on purpose. So me, personally, I’m not taking anything on purpose. It’s a big problem if they hit me."
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson echoed the gripe that La Russa had for Perez and the Indians after Abreu was hit.
“We're upset," Anderson said, according to James Fegan of the Athletic. "You hit our man. They were throwing up and in all night. You're brushing guys off the plate the whole game and of course we're going to get mad at that situation. That's one of our big guys. Of course everybody's going to get mad and get pissed."