Cubs' Barrett slugs Pierzynski, leads to melee

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CHICAGO -- A.J. Pierzynski barreled over Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, who punched the White Sox catcher and started a bench-clearing melee in the second inning that led to four ejections Saturday.

AP Photo/Jeff RobersonBarrett's punch of Pierzynski after a collision at home got him 10 games on the bench.

Pierzynski slapped the plate after the collision as the ball got away from Barrett. The Cubs catcher got up, grabbed Pierzynski and punched him. The White Sox's Scott Podsednik, who had been in the on-deck circle, wrestled Barrett to the ground.

White Sox center fielder Brian Anderson, who hit the bases loaded sacrifice fly to score Pierzynski, then got into a fight with Cubs first baseman John Mabry.

Pierzynski, Barrett, Anderson and Mabry were all ejected after a 15-minute delay.

As Pierzynski went back to the dugout, he raised his hands in the air while a soldout crowd at U.S. Cellular Field roared. He slapped hands with his teammates.

Minutes after the game resumed, the White Sox's Tadahito Iguchi hit a grand slam to give his team a 5-0 lead.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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