A comebacker by White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton to Royals starter Yordano Ventura for the final out in the seventh inning ignited a benches-clearing brawl in Thursday's game between the two teams, resulting in five players getting ejected.
Ventura could be seen mouthing an expletive to Eaton, taking apparent umbridge with the comebacker or something that Eaton may have said on his way to first base. After the ruckus was finally settled, the umpires ejected Ventura along with outfielder Lorenzo Cain and pitcher Edinson Volquez. White Sox starter Chris Sale and teammate Jeff Samardzija were also hit with ejections, ending the night of both starting pitchers in one fell swoop.
Ventura, who was ejected for the second time this season and is likely facing a lengthy suspension, finished the night with two earned runs on five hits and one walk in seven innings along with eight strikeouts.
Sale threw 70 of his 99 pitches for strikes but managed to rack up just two strikeouts before being ejected. He also allowed two earned runs on nine hits and one walk in seven innings of work.
Play resumed in the top of the eighth inning with the two teams tied 2-2.