Photo: Julio Aguilar/Getty, Patrick McDermott/Getty

Josh Donaldson #28 of the New York Yankees and Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox

During the fifth inning of the Yankees' 7-5 win over the Sox Saturday, tensions boiled and both benches were cleared when Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal confronted Donaldson at home plate.

Players from both teams later revealed that Donaldson called Anderson “Jackie” a number of times during the game, referring to iconic MLB playerJackie Robinson, who was Black. Sox manager Tony La Russa claimed it was “a racist comment” directed at Anderson, who is Black.

“He made a disrespectful comment,” Anderson told reporters. “I don’t really play like that. I don’t really play at all. I wasn’t really bothering nobody today but he made the comment and it was disrespectful. It was unnecessary. It was just uncalled for.”

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Josh Donaldson gets heated during Yankees game.Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson, left, and Chicago White Sox baserunner Tim Anderson (7) exchange words in the first inning on May 13, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

Anderson said it occurred on multiple occasions during the game, telling reporters that he “spared him” the first time but got heated with Donaldson when the comment was made again.

“I called him Jackie. In 2019, he came out with an interview and said that he’s the new Jackie Robinson … We’ve actually joked about that. I’ve said it to him in years past, not in any manner than just joking around,” Donaldsonsaid. (He was referring to Anderson’s May 2019 interview withSports Illustratedin which he said, “I kind of feel like today’s Jackie Robinson.")

The MLB is investigating the situation and “speaking to all of the relevant parties involved,” a source toldESPN. The league did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Players and officials calm down a mid-game altercation.Players and officials calm down a mid-game altercation.PHOTO: Sarah Stier/GettyPHOTO: Sarah Stier/Getty

Players and officials calm down a mid-game altercation.

Jose Abreu #79 holds back Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox after a benches-clearing dispute between Yasmani Grandal #24 of the Chicago White Sox (not pictured) and Josh Donaldson #28 of the New York Yankees (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

Umpire Nick Mahrley #48 attempts to separate Yasmani Grandal #24 of the Chicago White Sox and Josh Donaldson #28 of the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City

Players and officials calm down a mid-game altercation.PHOTO: Sarah Stier/GettyPHOTO: Sarah Stier/Getty

On Sunday, Sox closerLiam Hendriksslammed Donaldson’s “delusional” explanation of the incident.

“That’s completely inappropriate, and then after hearing what was said after the game, usually you have inside jokes with the people you get along with, not people that don’t get along at all,” Hendrikstold reportersof Donaldson’s explanation. “So that statement right there was complete bulls—.”

Meanwhile, Yankees manager Aaron Boone added that Donaldson shouldn’t have made the comment regardless of his intent.

“I don’t believe there was any malicious intent in that regard,” he told reporters. “But you know, this is, just in my opinion, somewhere he should not be going.”

source: people.com