We'll see if cooler heads prevail when Royals meet White Sox tonight
Respected for how hard they played during their run to the World Series in 2014, the Kansas City Royals have taken that approach to a more intense level while starting strong this season.
Following another bench-clearing incident, it's uncertain if emotions will remain high Friday night when the visiting Royals look for a sixth consecutive victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Mostly the same group that relied on small ball, sound defense and stellar relief pitching to win the AL pennant last season, Kansas City (12-4) has earned a somewhat dirtier reputation from opponents and the media so far in 2015.
After hard slides and hit batters led to the benches clearing in all three games with Oakland last weekend, the Royals were at it again during Thursday's 3-2, 13-inning victory over the White Sox (6-9).
"This game is emotional, it seems to follow (the Royals) around," said Chicago manager Robin Ventura, whose team has dropped 15 of the last 18 to Kansas City.
Royals starter Yordano Ventura, who confronted Angels star Mike Trout earlier this month and was ejected for hitting the Athletics' Brett Lawrie on Saturday, fielded a grounder from Adam Eaton and exchanged words before throwing to first to end the seventh inning. Both dugouts and bullpens emptied, and several punches were thrown. Ventura, Lorenzo Cain and Edinson Volquez were ejected along with Chicago's Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija.
After the teams combined to hit six batters in their season-opening series at Kansas City, Ventura set the stage for Thursday's tussle in the fourth by hitting Jose Abreu. Sale responded by plunking Mike Moustakas in the fifth.
Kansas City batters have been hit 17 times -- tied for the most in baseball.
"We've got to have each other's backs," said Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson, who scored on Eric Hosmer's double in the 13th. "If you come at us, we're not going to back down. We're going to keep playing the game our way."
However, Royals manager Ned Yost hopes Thursday's incident isn't a harbinger for the rest for the series.
"Hopefully, it's all behind us and we can move forward," he said.
Kansas City has had its way while winning 16 of the last 19 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Moustakas, who along with Hosmer had three hits Thursday, is batting .442 in his last 13 games at Chicago.
The Royals recorded five runs and nine hits off Jose Quintana (1-1, 8.40 ERA) in a 7-5 KC victory April 8. Quintana didn't factor in the decision.
The left-hander bounced back to yield an unearned run in six innings of a 4-1 win at Cleveland on April 14, then was tagged for nine runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings of Sunday's 9-1 loss at Detroit. Nine of the 15 runs Quintana has allowed have come off three homers.
"I have confidence in me every time we go out there," he said. "The next start, make the adjustment and do better."
Hosmer, who hit a three-run homer off Quintana this month, is 6 for his last 14 with another home run against him.
Danny Duffy (1-0, 5.51) was tagged for five runs, including a three-run homer by Tyler Flowers, and eight hits in five-plus innings while opposing Quintana this month. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA in two starts since but gave up five walks and two runs in five innings of Sunday's 4-2 win over the A's.
Abreu is batting 11 for 25 with 11 RBIs in the last six games, and 3 for 7 with a homer and a double against Duffy.
