*Above video is a previous story on an insightful book written about Terry Francona*
CLEVELAND (AP) — Elvis Andrus hit a two-run single after Chicago tied it in the ninth inning on consecutive throwing errors by Cleveland rookie Bryan Rocchio, giving the White Sox a 5-3 win Sunday over the Guardians, one day after a nasty benches-clearing brawl between the AL Central rivals.
There was no carryover from Saturday night’s melee, triggered by a fight at second base between Chicago’s Tim Anderson and Cleveland’s José Ramírez. There were six total ejections.
Major League Baseball is still reviewing the Anderson-Ramírez altercation, along with subsequent flareups, before handing out discipline.
The White Sox were down to their final strike in the series finale before rallying against All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase (1-6).
Chicago loaded the bases on two singles and the first error by Rocchio, filling at third for Ramírez. Rocchio charged and made a barehanded play on a bouncer, but his throw to first was short and Kole Calhoun, acquired in a trade Friday and making his first start there since 2013, couldn’t handle it.
Zach Remillard followed with a hard smash that Rocchio backhanded. However, his long throw was in the dirt and again Calhoun couldn’t make the pick, allowing the White Sox to tie it.
Andrus, who has plagued Cleveland throughout his career, then grounded his single up the middle as Chicago won two of three to take its first series since July.
Sammy Peralta (1-0) got the win, and Jimmy Lambert worked the ninth for his first career save.
Rookie Gabriel Arias hit a two-run homer for the Guardians.
On Saturday, Anderson threw the first punch before being knocked down by a blind right hook from Cleveland’s All-Star third baseman. Anderson and Ramírez likely will be suspended for multiple games.
Both players were ejected, along with Cleveland manager Terry Francona, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh, Clase and Chicago manager Pedro Grifol.
Anderson was not in Chicago’s lineup and Grifol insisted it was a scheduled off day and had nothing to do with the fight or the shortstop’s behavior — he initially left the field before returning as he sought revenge.
Ramírez started at DH and went 1 for 3 with a double and two stolen bases.
Ramírez received a louder ovation from the Progressive Field crowd than usual for his first at-bat.
A fan sitting down the right-field line clapped while wearing oversized red boxing gloves and another wore a homemade T-shirt with “Down Goes Anderson” on the back, a nod to Guardians broadcaster Tom Hamilton’s call of the sixth-inning fight.
Guardians open a four-game series Monday at home against Toronto.