Angry White Sox Beat Angels

Did he or didn’t he?

Did Angel pitcher Kelvim Escobar hit Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski on purpose on Saturday as payback for last year’s American League championship series?

Chicago Manager Ozzie Guillen said yes, and he was furious at Escobar. Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said no, and he was furious at plate umpire Paul Nauert. Escobar said no too, but he understood the circumstantial evidence might make Guillen -- his Venezuelan countryman -- reluctant to discuss the issue with him.

“I don’t know if they want to talk to me after that,� Escobar said.

The White Sox won, 2-1, and Escobar left with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand that he said would probably force him to skip a start, a blow to a rotation already scrambling to cover for the absence of Bartolo Colon.

The hit batter played no role in the outcome of the game, but the managers could hardly control their emotions. The bad blood, real or imagined, stemmed from two incidents in the ALCS.

In Game 2, Escobar threw strike three to Pierzynski, but catcher Josh Paul did not tag him out, umpire Doug Eddings did not call him out and Pierzynski ran to first base. In Game 5, Escobar fielded a comebacker, then tagged Pierzynski with the glove while holding the ball in his bare hand.

“If Escobar is going to hit somebody, he should hit himself,� Guillen said. “A.J. has nothing to do with the dumb ... play they made, Josh Paul and him. And, all of a sudden, you’re blaming A.J. You have to be dumb enough to blame somebody when you screw up.

“If you’re going to blame somebody, look in the mirror and watch the video.... It’s nobody’s fault that Josh Paul didn’t tag the guy. It’s nobody’s fault that he tagged the guy with the wrong hand. Blame yourself. Now you’re going to hit somebody for no reason and get somebody hurt for no reason.�

Escobar, who said Friday he had nothing against Pierzynski, said Saturday he did not blame Pierzynski for the controversial plays last fall and in any case said he would not have been so stupid as to hit him on purpose, given the history.

“You have to be smart,� Escobar said. “That’s one guy on the team I don’t want to hit, because of all the controversy. I know they think I did it on purpose. I didn’t.

“I knew they were saying things from the dugout. They can say whatever they want.�

No sooner had Pierzynski gotten hit -- and headed to first base without a word -- than Nauert issued a warning to both benches.

If another batter were hit, the pitcher and his manager would be subject to ejection.

When Scioscia protested, he said Nauert told him that the bad blood was “well documented.�

Said Scioscia: “The umpire told me it was well documented. I don’t know where it’s documented. The misinformation by umpires is disturbing, very disturbing. We’ll have to see who the source of this misinformation is.

“The information they had was not correct. There’s no problem at all with Pierzynski. There’s no problem at all with their guys. We’re not about throwing at guys. That’s not how we go about our business.�

Crew chief Charlie Reliford told a guard stationed outside the umpires’ locker room that the umpires would not comment. Escobar said he is concerned that the incident could subject him to a fine or other disciplinary action.

Jim Thome homered and Jermaine Dye singled home a run for the White Sox, with Orlando Cabrera doubling home Chone Figgins for the Angels’ run.