Jose Ramirez Addresses Melee With Tim Anderson: He Wanted to Fight

Guardians star Jose Ramirez and White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson were ejected after a brawl during Saturday's game.

In a fiery altercation during Saturday's game, Guardians star Jose Ramirez and White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson found themselves in the center of a melee that resulted in their ejections. The intense confrontation between the two players unfolded during the sixth inning, shortly after Ramirez was deemed safe while sliding into second base after a double. As Ramirez was getting back on his feet, words were exchanged, igniting a physical altercation that saw punches being thrown.

Following the game, Ramirez took the opportunity to address the media in Cleveland and provide his perspective on the incident. When asked about what transpired with Anderson at second base, Ramirez revealed, "He said he wanted to fight, and if he wanted to fight, I had to defend myself." He further expressed his belief that he successfully landed a punch that knocked Anderson to the ground.

The aftermath of the brawl resulted in a total of six ejections. Both Anderson and Ramirez were ejected by officials, along with managers Terry Francona and Pedro Grifol. Additionally, Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase and third base coach Mike Sarbaugh were also ejected from the game. Grifol chose not to comment on the incident, stating, "I'm going to let MLB figure it out, do their investigation, and watch the video. They have some work to do."

Although Anderson did not make himself available to the media after the game, Grifol indicated that he did not sustain any injuries during the altercation. The repercussions of this intense confrontation will undoubtedly be closely examined by MLB as they conduct their investigation.