Fall out from the brawl with the Rangers
For the second year in a row, the Rangers and Palms came to blows on the field. This year's animosity can hardly be called carry over from last year's, as none of the major players from last year were involved this year. The trouble started in the 7th. Eddie Black was on 1st, and Ayoz Sadan chopped it to Elvis Andrus, who took the ball to second himself. Black slid hard to break up the double play, which he did. Andrus landed on Black, and shoved him as he was getting up. They each exchanged words as Black headed back to the dugout.
Frank Sohn was the next batter, and Rangers' pitcher Tommy Hunter planted the first pitch squarely in the ribs. Sohn slammed his helmet on the ground and charged the mound without hesitation. Sohn met Hunter on the third base side of the mound and they both went to the ground. Andrus, one of the original combatants, arrived next and started raining blows on Sohn. Steve Drysdale was the first player out of the Palms dugout and grabbed Andrus, whipping him to the ground. Before too much longer, cooler heads prevailed and 4 players were ejected, Sohn, Drysdale Hunter and Andrus. Major League Baseball handed down suspensions soon after the game. Drysdale got three games, Hunter and Sohn 5 and Andrus 6.
After the game, some of the Palms were reached for quotes. Eddie Black was the most heated, realizing the whole melee was initiated by his slide, "I thought it was a pretty good slide, but I guess I might have been a little spikes up. Their shortstop gave me a little shove and we jawed. That should have been the end of it. Instead they threw at Frankie and Dry had to get into it because I was already in my pads when it went down. It just sucks that the people that didn't have anything to do with this had to go and make it their business."
For his part, Frank Sohn was upset with the temper he showed, "I'm a pretty mellow guy usually, but you know, if people are out there throwing at you, you can't just sit there and take it. Well, I wasn't going to take it, anyways." He paused and then laughed, "Could you tell I've never been in a fight before?"
Drysdale, for his part, laughed it off when asked if he had any hard feelings after the fight, "Someone had to jump in there. That punk was kicking Frankie's ass! Better I get the suspension though. I know Dupe's [Billy Dupont] been out a couple games and was itching for a fight."
The teams play again tomorrow afternoon.
Frank Sohn was the next batter, and Rangers' pitcher Tommy Hunter planted the first pitch squarely in the ribs. Sohn slammed his helmet on the ground and charged the mound without hesitation. Sohn met Hunter on the third base side of the mound and they both went to the ground. Andrus, one of the original combatants, arrived next and started raining blows on Sohn. Steve Drysdale was the first player out of the Palms dugout and grabbed Andrus, whipping him to the ground. Before too much longer, cooler heads prevailed and 4 players were ejected, Sohn, Drysdale Hunter and Andrus. Major League Baseball handed down suspensions soon after the game. Drysdale got three games, Hunter and Sohn 5 and Andrus 6.
After the game, some of the Palms were reached for quotes. Eddie Black was the most heated, realizing the whole melee was initiated by his slide, "I thought it was a pretty good slide, but I guess I might have been a little spikes up. Their shortstop gave me a little shove and we jawed. That should have been the end of it. Instead they threw at Frankie and Dry had to get into it because I was already in my pads when it went down. It just sucks that the people that didn't have anything to do with this had to go and make it their business."
For his part, Frank Sohn was upset with the temper he showed, "I'm a pretty mellow guy usually, but you know, if people are out there throwing at you, you can't just sit there and take it. Well, I wasn't going to take it, anyways." He paused and then laughed, "Could you tell I've never been in a fight before?"
Drysdale, for his part, laughed it off when asked if he had any hard feelings after the fight, "Someone had to jump in there. That punk was kicking Frankie's ass! Better I get the suspension though. I know Dupe's [Billy Dupont] been out a couple games and was itching for a fight."
The teams play again tomorrow afternoon.
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