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by Howard Sudberry
CHICAGO (CBS) ― Tensions always run hot when the White Sox take on the Cubs, but no one could have predicted that the rivalry would turn violent. But at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday afternoon, it did.

As CBS 2's Howard Sudberry reports, the brawl broke out when White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski slapped home plate and barreled over Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, who punched Pierzynski in the face. That started a bench-clearing melee in the second inning that led to four ejections.

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.

"I'm sorry it happened, but at the same time, it was kind of a cheap shot," Pierzynski said.

Pierzynski knocked Barrett over just before the throw arrived and slapped the plate after the collision as the ball got away. Then, the Cubs catcher got up and grabbed Pierzynski before landing a right to the left side of his face.

After Podsednik wrestled Barrett to the ground, White Sox center fielder Brian Anderson, who hit the bases loaded sacrifice fly to score Pierzynski, got into a fight with Cubs first baseman John Mabry. Mabry injured his ribs in the commotion and was taken to a hospital for X-rays.

"I feel bad about what happened," Anderson said. "But at the same time, when your emotions are going that high, you just lose the fact that he's one of the better guys in baseball."

Pierzynski's play was within the rules. Both players told their side of the story after the game.

"All I know is that when I got up, and sort of gained some kind of consciousness, he's walking toward me and he sort of bumps into me, and at that point, I just sort of reacted," Barrett said. "I reacted in a way that... I wish I would have pushed him away from me, but unfortunately, what's done is done."

Pierzynski said: "It was kind of weird -- I hit him, and then I got up, and my helmet was right behind him and I went to get my helmet, and the next thing I know I'm in a bear hug, and I get a direct quote, 'I didn't have the ball, (expletive),' and the next thing I know I get punched."

Barrett said he was woozy after the collision -- which he called a "great play" by Pierzynski. As he got up, Pierzynski nudged him and that set off Barrett.

"When I was hit back and jarred back, I was a little irritated by the fact that the guy who just knocked me down is walking toward me," Barrett said. "If he goes toward his dugout, it's a totally different situation."

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

Barrett added that he expected to face penalties.

"There's kids watching – you don't like for these sort of things to happen," Barrett said. "But it did happen. I expect to be disciplined, and that's part of the price for doing this."

That the punch came from someone he has known since his late teens shocked Pierzynski, who extended a "branch" afterward by trying to reach out to Barrett through a clubhouse attendant.

"I didn't receive anything back, so I don't know what that means," Pierzynski said.

Cubs manager Dusty Baker and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen both said their teams will not retaliate on Sunday.

Pierzynski didn't think he deserved to be thrown out and indicated he will appeal any fine or suspension.

"If I'm disciplined, I don't know for what," he said. "I understand why I was thrown out of the game, but I don't understand what I did to get thrown out of the game. If I'm disciplined, if I'm suspended or fined, I'll probably have to fight that."

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 play resumed following a nearly 15-minute delay, Tadahito Iguchi hit a grand slam and then later added a two-run shot to back strong pitching by Freddy Garcia as the White Sox routed the frustrated Cubs 7-0.

There was not much evidence of tension in the stands. The fight calmed down fairly quickly, but everyone did get to their feet to see what was going on.

Suspensions and fines are expected, but all of the players should be available for Game 3 of the Crosstown Classic on Sunday.

The Saturday incident was the second incident involving Barrett in eight days.

Barrett and San Diego's Dave Roberts exchanged words as Roberts crossed the plate on May 12. Padres players came out of the dugout while the Cubs remained at their positions. No punches were thrown, and the incident was quickly diffused.

Pierzynski is no stranger to controversy.

He reached first after a disputed strikeout in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the ALCS against the Los Angeles Angels to set up the winning rally and spark the White Sox's run to the World Series title.

"I've been punched a lot of times," Pierzynski said. "Hopefully, it's over with now."

(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)