7/31/2021 Other Games

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CardsofSTL
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7/31/2021 Other Games

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CardsofSTL
All Hail the GDT Master
Posts: 47817
Joined: April 26 11, 6:06 am
Location: Columbus, OH

Re: 7/31/2021 Other Games

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There was no in-game or postgame debate concerning the intention of James Karinchak’s 96 mph fastball hitting José Abreu in the head during the eighth inning of a 6-4 White Sox victory over Cleveland on Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Karinchak immediately dropped into a crouch on the mound in despondent fashion after the baseball slammed into the left side of Abreu’s helmet, forcing home a run with the bases loaded. It was the idea of Karinchak throwing up and in on Abreu, the highly respected team leader for the American League Central’s top team, causing manager Tony La Russa to sprint from the dugout as Abreu was being checked out and have words with Cleveland catcher Roberto Pérez after pushing him aside.

Both benches and bullpens emptied. But there were no ejections and nothing more than an irate La Russa, who had to be momentarily held back by bench coach Miguel Cairo.

“The point was that the guy did not have command and it’s scary to call the ball inside,” said La Russa, who was still a bit agitated during his Zoom call. “There was no question it was not intentional. That guy lacked command and it was scary to throw the ball, and if you are going to throw the ball in, get it down. Just a very scary area. That’s what I said.”

"Definitely we're upset. You hit our man,” said White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who delivered the go-ahead hit off Karinchak during a two-run eighth played sloppily by Cleveland. “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.”



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