Five ejected in Royal rumbles

Miguel Olivo charged the mound after being hit by a pitch from D.J. Carrasco in the fifth inning Sunday, touching off a benches-clearing brawl in a 14-3 rout of the Chicago White Sox by the Royals in Kansas City.

Two innings later, Royals starter Zack Greinke was ejected with one out in the seventh when he hit Nick Swisher with a pitch after both dugouts had been warned. Royals manager Trey Hillman was also ejected.

Carrasco was just brought in from the bullpen to replace starter Clayton Richard. Carrasco threw a pitch high and tight to Olivo, who ducked out of the way, and the ball struck his bat for a foul. On the ensuing pitch, Carrasco hit Olivo and the Royals’ catcher charged the mound.

White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski grabbed Olivo and by then both dugouts and bullpens had rushed the field.

Order was restored and Olivo, Carrasco and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen were ejected.

Reds players huddle

The Cincinnati Reds, mired in last place in the N.L. Central, held a players-only meeting before their 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals.

The 20-minute meeting failed to produce an immediate difference on the field. The Reds allowed four runs in the first inning – including an unearned run after an error by left fielder Adam Dunn – as Washington completed a three-game sweep.

It was the Reds’ second players-only meeting of the season. They also had one in early May in Atlanta.

Baker said with a youthful team such as the Reds, players’ meetings are positive.

Wood’s blister healing

Cubs closer Kerry Wood faced batters but probably will not return from a pesky blister on his right index finger until later this week.

Sidelined since July 11, Wood had hoped to return from the disabled list during Chicago’s upcoming series against Houston. Instead, manager Lou Piniella said he likely will not be activated until the Cubs host St. Louis next weekend.

Soriano on DL again

Atlanta’s Rafael Soriano may be running out of opportunities to try to pitch this season without pain in his right elbow.

Soriano, who began the season as the Braves’ closer, will return to the disabled list for the third time this season with inflammation in the elbow.

Soriano’s return to the disabled list comes only two weeks after he was activated on July 21 after missing 37 games. He also missed 45 games after first going on the DL on April 6.