MINNEAPOLIS — Shortstop Tim Anderson was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount by MLB on Friday for his inappropriate actions toward fans during the White Sox’ game Wednesday against the Guardians at Progressive Field.
The suspension had been scheduled to be served Friday, when the Sox opened a three-game series at Target Field, but Anderson elected to appeal.
During the eighth inning Wednesday, Anderson appeared to let a heckler get the best of him and was shown on the TV broadcast raising a middle finger toward fans on the third-base side. Anderson made three errors in the first two innings.
“I have to apologize for my actions,” Anderson said. “There are a lot of people who really look up to me. I take full accountability for what I did. It’s something I have to learn from and grow from.
“Game can be tough, and you can get frustrated with things people say. But there are a lot of kids out there watching. I have to be a bigger person in that situation.”
Anderson has made six errors in the last three games.
It would be Anderson’s third career suspension. He missed the first two games of the season for bumping an umpire last September.
Robert avoids IL
AJ Pollock returned to the lineup, taking the place of center fielder Luis Robert, who likely will miss the Twins series but could return to the lineup early next week, manager Tony La Russa said.
Pollock was reinstated from the injured list after suffering a hamstring strain during the Sox’ opening series against the Tigers.
Robert pulled up after running out a ground ball in the eighth inning Thursday in Cleveland.
“I would think he won’t play these three [in Minnesota],’’ La Russa said. “Day off Monday, and if we can play him Tuesday [when the Sox open a homestand against the Royals] and not lose him for 10 days, it’s huge.
“He did the MRI, and that’s what we hoped for — it looked minor. He felt a little tug and stopped, so he didn’t run through it.”
Pollock, acquired from the Dodgers on April 1 in a trade for right-hander Craig Kimbrel, landed on the IL on April 12 (retroactive to April 10) with a strained right hamstring. He got his rehab at-bats at the spring-training complex in Glendale, Arizona.
Foster on family leave list
Right-hander Matt Foster was put on the family medical leave list, making room on the roster for Pollock. Foster has a 1.42 ERA with five strikeouts in five relief appearances covering 5„ innings. He has contributed to a bullpen that has allowed four runs and 12 hits in 23 innings (1.57 ERA) in the Sox’ last five road games through Thursday.
Harrison thankful
Josh Harrison (shoulder) continues to get treatment and said he was hopeful of playing Saturday. He said the ‘‘snow angel’’ he did on the outfield grass after an acrobatic tumble over Andrew Vaughn and a running catch in short left field Wednesday was a “sigh of relief, a thank God.”
“I envisioned myself or Vaughn or both of us getting carted off,” he said. “It could have been worse.”
† Yoan Moncada (oblique) worked up a sweat taking a healthy amount of swings in the cage, then fielded ground balls.
