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Anderson after another epic bat toss: 'I knew I had to do it'

Alex Trautwig / Major League Baseball / Getty

Tim Anderson isn't apologizing for another emphatic bat toss.

The Chicago White Sox shortstop sealed an incredible 12-11 comeback win Friday over the Detroit Tigers with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. Anderson launched his bat toward Chicago's dugout in celebration, his second bat toss with gusto in less than two weeks.

"I knew I had to do it," Anderson said, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. "It's different. I did it again, so I let the people know it wasn't a fluke. It was definitely a great moment.

"Yeah, I got excited, man. I actually threw a change-up (with the bat) this time."

Anderson didn't let a plunking earlier in the season tone down his game.

Kansas City Royals starter Brad Keller threw at him on April 17 in retaliation for the 25-year-old tossing his bat after hitting a home run. That eventually resulted in the benches clearing, a five-game suspension for Keller, and Anderson receiving a one-game suspension for using inappropriate language.

His first bat toss of 2019 led to both criticism and support from players around the league, but Anderson said he won't change how he plays, and proved that Friday night.

"Guys are going to strike me out and I'm going to get guys," Anderson said earlier this month, according to James Neveau of NBC Chicago. "The game goes like it always has been going. When I definitely get those guys, I want to celebrate with my teammates. When they get me, they can celebrate with their teammates. I'm not going to get mad."

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