Lawrie apologetic after spraining Escobar's knee on hard slide

Brett Lawrie's tenacity on the basepaths fueled a benches-clearing incident Friday at Kauffman Stadium in his club's series opener against the Kansas City Royals.

Lawrie slid hard into shortstop Alcides Escobar to break up a potential double play in the top of the seventh inning, resulting in a left knee sprain for Escobar, who was unable to walk off the field without assistance from two members of his team's medical staff.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

"There was zero intent," Lawrie said of hurting Escobar. "I was just going in hard trying to break up double play."

Lawrie's slide drew the ire of veteran second baseman Omar Infante, though, who voiced his displeasure with the 25-year-old before an umpire stepped in to separate the two. Lawrie, however, continued to jaw with the Royals' infield as he was escorted away from second base, at which point Royals catcher Salvador Perez came out from behind the plate, ostensibly to diffuse the situation.

Both benches and bullpens would clear moments later, though the display would amount to little. The play at second base was then reviewed by the umpiring crew, but the out call on the field was confirmed. Escobar was ultimately replaced at shortstop by Christian Colon.

Acquired from the Blue Jays this winter, Lawrie's unrestrained enthusiasm was a constant source of both amusement and frustration throughout his four seasons in Toronto. One fan, however, was so incensed by Lawrie's antics that she encouraged Oakland Athletics designated hitter Billy Butler - who spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Royals - to inform his teammate that such behavior is not accepted in Kansas City.

(Courtesy: FSKC)