Jose Ramirez, Tim Anderson fight starts scuffle between Guardians, White Sox

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
11

CLEVELAND — It was absolute chaos in Cleveland. Fight night broke out at a baseball game.

In the sixth inning of Saturday night's game between the Guardians and Chicago White Sox, Jose Ramirez hit a ball down the right-field line for an RBI double. Ramirez slid into second base, where he beat the throw as White Sox infielder Tim Anderson applied the tag.

Aug 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (7) raises his fists to fight Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) during the sixth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (7) raises his fists to fight Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) during the sixth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

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Ramirez appeared to not appreciate how Anderson tagged him over the head, and the two began exchanging words. Ramirez pointed in Anderson's face, and then the two then squared up like boxers meeting in the middle of the ring.

Both threw several punches as the benches emptied. Ramirez landed a hard punch, decking Anderson and sending him to the ground.

Aug 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Teammates restrain Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) after a fight during the sixth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Teammates restrain Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) after a fight during the sixth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Both teams met on the field, with nearly everyone involved pushing, shoving and exchanging heated words. Several players and coaches had to be held back. The fracas seemed to quiet down twice, only for more lunching, shoving and shouting to ensue. Anderson had to be held back for nearly entire altercation. Guardians bench coach DeMarlo Hale at one point had to be held back by several teammates and coaches.

All the while, the Progressive Field fans chanted "Jose, Jose-Jose-Jose."

Aug 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech (34) yells at Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) during the sixth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech (34) yells at Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) during the sixth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Ramirez, Anderson, closer Emmanuel Clase, both managers and third base coach Mike Sarbaugh were ejected after one of the most heated fights in baseball in quite some time.

Amazingly, Jose Tena checked in for Ramirez to make his Major League debut after all of that. And with both benches still fuming and the stadium buzzing, Oscar Gonzalez's walk-up song, the "SpongeBob SquarePants theme," was the next song to play.

The incident delayed the game for 14 minutes.

Chicago White Sox's Michael Kopech, left, holds Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramírez, center, as White Sox's Tim Anderson throws a punch during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Cleveland. Anderson and Ramírez were among those ejected. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Chicago White Sox's Michael Kopech, left, holds Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramírez, center, as White Sox's Tim Anderson throws a punch during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Cleveland. Anderson and Ramírez were among those ejected. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Hear Tom Hamilton's call of the Jose Ramirez-Tim Anderson fight that led to the benches-clearing brawl between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox

And here is Tom Hamilton's call of the altercation.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jose Ramirez fight with Tim Anderson pauses Guardians vs. White Sox