The Cleveland Indians opened up an early lead and chased Kansas City pitcher Jonathan Sanchez from the mound after just 2.2 innings pitched, but because of a wild inning, will now be forced to play without three vital cogs for the remainder of the night.
Cleveland manager Manny Acta, third baseman Jack Hannahan and starting pitcher Jenmar Gomez were each tossed from the game by umpire Gary Darling in the bottom of the third inning after Gomez hit Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas with a pitch. Gomez left the game without yielding a hit and throwing just 20 pitches.
The altercation on the field came a mere minutes after the Indians knocked home five runs in the the top half of the inning and forced Sanchez to the bench. Designated hitter Jose Lopez was the catalyst, and plated a pair of runs on a double in just his second game in the starting lineup this season. With Gomez forced to the locker room, Cleveland is hoping that last year's 12-game winner Josh Tomlin will be able to protect a slight lead into the middle innings.
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