Steven Souza was pissed off Tuesday night after getting hit on the leg by Chicago Cubs reliever Steve Cishek in the ninth inning. To make up for it, Cishek says he owes his friend breakfast.
With two outs, a runner on and the Cubs trailing 4-1, Cishek had a pitch drift inside to Souza and the Arizona Diamondbacks player was not too happy once he got to first base. He got in a brief shouting match with Anthony Rizzo, the bullpens stepped onto the warning track, but cooler heads prevailed.
Earlier in the game Souza hit Javier Baez’s left knee on a slide into second base. Baez was eventually taken out the next inning and ended up with a giant bruise.
Souza thought the HBP was intentional.
Here is #DBacks Steven Souza Jr. on his collision with Javy Baez and the ensuing drama with Steve Cishek and Anthony Rizzo. pic.twitter.com/LsB6Nk9KJV
— Richard Morin (@BigRickMorin) July 25, 2018
So, he wants to make it clear that his slide wasn’t dirty and that he felt the Cubs were trying to get him back by hitting him.
Joe Maddon Eases Cubs Fans Panic After Javier Baez Leaves Game
Cishek offered up the following explanation.
S.Cishek hit his good friend S. Souza in the 9th: "There's a lot of irony going on. I actually had breakfast with Souza this morning. Sinker in, tried to back him off the plate. Something we talked about over breakfast. I smoked him in the leg. I owe him a call….and breakfast."
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) July 25, 2018
Cishek and Souza were teammates for a few seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and remain friends now.
So, there really aren’t any hard feelings coming from the Cubs.
Baez says he doesn't think Souza's slide was dirty.
— Kevin Powell (@kpowell720) July 25, 2018
Maddox said Baez doesn’t appear seriously hurt. Also had no issue with Souza’s slide
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 25, 2018
No one on the Cubs thought it was dirty and it wasn’t, so it just seems like Souza was pissed for getting hit and thought it was because of the slide.
Hey, sometimes pitchers lose control.
Don’t think any of this will escalate seeing as Souza and Cishek are friends. Just a misunderstanding.
