Tim Anderson does not believe the pitch he took off his helmet from Royals right-hander Glenn Sparkman was intentional.
That doesn’t mean he sent a “no worries” text to Sparkman, though.
“I don’t like the Royals,” Anderson said. “It’s going to forever be a beef from me. We are going to try to whup them every time we play them.”
The growing rivalry between the American League Central foes made Anderson’s double against Ian Kennedy that scored James McCann from second with the go-ahead run in the White Sox’ 8-7 victory Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field all the more sweet. It gave the Sox (26-29) a three-game sweep of the Royals (18-37).
Returning after missing four starts with a sore right wrist, Anderson was hit with a changeup on the second pitch he saw in the second inning, prompting umpire Mark Carlson to eject Sparkman. The Sox and Royals emptied their benches April 17, when Anderson was hit by Brad Keller.
Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez was charged with a wild pitch on a 95 mph fastball headed toward Hunter Dozier’s head. Dozier dropped to the ground on the pitch in the top of the second inning.
“We were aware of a previous situation between the clubs involving Anderson,” Carlson said. “When the pitcher threw the ball up and in and hit him in the head, that raises an awareness to us, and we have to make a decision on what we want to do to handle that situation.”
Anderson was stunned but remained calm, perhaps because Sparkman did not use the customary purpose pitch of choice.
“I knew it was an accident; I saw it on his face,” Anderson said. “He was looking scared. It was a changeup that got away from him. It was just a tough moment for me, but I was able to control myself and stay in the game.”
The Royals had erased a 7-1 deficit and tied the game in the eighth on Naperville Central grad Nicky Lopez’s two-run single against former Royal Kelvin Herrera. But the Sox had the last laugh.
Alex Colome pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save in 11 opportunities, 24 hours after he got a win and a save on the same day.
The Sox play at Kansas City next weekend.
NOTES: Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu hit opposite-field homers.
† Center fielder Leury Garcia singled in his first three plate appearances, scored two runs and made two good catches, including one robbing Jorge Soler of a home run.
† Reynaldo Lopez (6.20 ERA) had another rough outing, allowing 12 hits in 5‰ innings and finishing with a career-high 118 pitches.
