Royals' Glenn Sparkman ejected for hitting Tim Anderson

Kansas City Royals right-hander Glenn Sparkman was ejected without warning from Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox after hitting shortstop Tim Anderson.

The pitch by Sparkman may have been in response to White Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, who almost plunked Hunter Dozier a half inning earlier, according to Chuck Garfien of NBC Sports Chicago.

Anderson acknowledged that he didn't think the pitch was intentional, however, he also doesn't "like the Royals," according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Ironically, he ended up getting the last laugh by driving in the run that put the White Sox up for good.

"I knew it was an accident. I saw it on his face. He was looking scared," Anderson told Scott Merkin of MLB.com. "It was a changeup that got away from him. It was just a tough moment for me, but I was able to control myself and stay in the game."

Royals manager Ned Yost doesn't believe there was any malicious intent and was upset his starting pitcher got tossed.

“I’ve got to choose my words carefully. As far as we’re concerned, coming into this series, we had no animosity toward that young man," he said, according to Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com. "None. And to think we’re going to hit him on purpose is ludicrous. And two, it was a changeup."

Mark Carlson is the umpire that threw out Sparkman.

“We were aware of a previous situation between the two clubs involving Tim Anderson," Carlson said, according to Van Schouwen. "When the pitcher threw the ball up and in and hit him in the head, that raises an awareness to us and we have to make a decision on what to do to handle that situation.”

The contest marked Anderson's first start against Kansas City since the clubs were involved in a benches-clearing incident in mid-April. The 25-year-old was at the center of the drama after an emphatic bat toss, which led to Royals right-hander Brad Keller hitting him with a fastball.

The two were suspended following the fracas, with Anderson getting one game for reportedly using racist language while Keller got five for his role.

Chicago and Kansas City will meet again June 7 when the two teams start a three-game set.