After winning his appeal, Cleveland Guardians star José Ramírez will only serve a two-game punishment for fighting Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson.
The five-time All-Star will serve his suspension for the remaining two games of Cleveland’s series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday and Sunday, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. When Anderson tagged Ramírez too hard on a slide into second base during Chicago’s 7-4 victory at Progressive Field on August 5, the two got into a brawl in the sixth inning.
Per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, issues between the two teams began on July 27 when Anderson “took exception” to Josh Naylor imitating then-White Sox third baseman Jake Burger’s base-hit celebration.
“In that same game,” Rogers wrote, “[Guardians closer Emmanuel] Clase struck out Andrew Benintendi looking to end the game, then yelled in the direction of the Chicago dugout. Anderson, in particular, could be seen looking out at the mound from the White Sox dugout as the Guardians celebrated their win.” Rogers noted Anderson “increased his trash-talking” over the next few games and carried it over to last weekend’s series between the teams in Cleveland. Ramírez, via Guardians translator Agustin Rivero, told reporters after the game Anderson has “been disrespecting the game for a while” and he told him “to stop doing that” when the White Sox shortstop “said he wanted to fight and I had to defend myself.” Major League Baseball disciplined a total of eight people as a result of the brawl. Anderson was suspended for six games. Ramírez got a three-game ban.
Clase, manager Terry Francona, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh and White Sox manager Pedro Grifol all received one-game suspensions. White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech and Guardians utilityman Gabriel Arias were fined undisclosed amounts.
Both Anderson and Ramírez appealed their suspensions, allowing them to keep playing. MLB has yet to issue a ruling on Anderson’s appeal.
Ramírez is hitting .282/.357/.487 with a team-leading 17 homers in 113 games this season.
