CHICAGO -- Oakland's Terry Steinbach was hit in the helmet by a pitch in the ninth inning Saturday, sparking a bench-clearing brawl and Athletics Manager Tony La Russa to throw a bat into the stands behind home plate.
With two out in the ninth, a runner at second base and the game tied 4-4, Chicago reliever Bobby Thigpen's first pitch hit Steinbach in the helmet.
While Steinbach lay motionless at home plate, La Russa and the entire Oakland bench ran onto the field. La Russa picked up Steinbach's bat and hurled it at the netting behind home plate, where it landed above the fans.
The White Sox bench also emptied and both teams stood on the infield while the trainer attended to Steinbach.
Steinbach, who suffered a fractured jaw when he was hit in 1988, was able to sit up and was taken off the field on a stretcher.
As the teams started to head back to their respective dugouts, words were exchanged between White Sox second baseman Scott Fletcher and Oakland's Rickey Henderson. Henderson was held back temporarily by Jose Canseco, then broke free, igniting a fracas around first base.
La Russa, who also yelled at White Sox Manager Jeff Torborg after throwing the bat, was ejected from the game.
There was no immediate information on Steinbach's condition.
