Venezuelan Willson Contreras was once again a protagonist in the Major Leagues, although this time due to an altercation that sparked a fight between the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals during the match played at Fenway Park.
Tension erupted in the fourth inning, when Washington starter Cade Cavalli struck out Contreras and yelled, “Sit down, boy.” Boston’s first baseman responded immediately and began walking toward the mound, causing both teams to empty their benches and bullpens.
In the midst of the tumult, Contreras managed to break free from catcher Keibert Ruiz, who was trying to restrain him, and threw his helmet in the direction of the rival pitcher.
After the incident, umpires ejected Willson Contreras, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy, outfielder Nate Eaton and Washington reliever Miles Mikolas, who was also involved in another confrontation. Cavalli, on the other hand, remained in the game, a decision that generated discontent among the Boston team.
After the game, Contreras explained that he reacted after feeling provoked by the pitcher’s comment.
“He struck me out with a good pitch. I was walking towards the dugout and then he did what he did. He was provoking me and I lost control,” declared the Venezuelan.
For his part, Tracy considered that Cavalli’s comment was the trigger for the altercation and assured that the pitcher should also have been ejected.
The Nationals right-hander, who finished with a dominant performance of 13 strikeouts in seven innings, explained that the origin of the conflict went back to the first inning, when Contreras brushed against him upon returning to the dugout. According to Cavalli, he never heard the apologies that, according to the Venezuelan and the Boston coaching staff, were offered at that time.
The incident comes just one day after Contreras was ejected for arguing a called third strike, becoming the first player in Red Sox history to be ejected in consecutive games.
On Monday, the Venezuelan had hit a spectacular home run over the “Green Monster” and celebrated excitedly by dedicating it to Venezuela, a country that is going through difficult times after the devastating earthquakes recorded last week. Cavalli expressed his solidarity with the situation in the South American country, although he insisted that respect between players must be maintained on the field of play.
