The Boston Red Sox soundly defeated the Detroit Tigers 10-3 on Tuesday evening. All ten of their runs coming against Tigers’ starting pitcher Framber Valdez.
After back-to-back jacks from Wilson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu in the fourth inning, Valdez drills Trevor Story in the back with a 94 MPH four-seam fastball in the first pitch of the at-bat.
Story was clearly not happy about the hit-by-pitch, leading to the clearing of both teams’ benches and the eventual ejection of Valdez.
Benches clear and Valdez was ejected 👀👎
After the game, Valdez claimed that hitting Story was not intentional, although it may seem that way.
“It was not intentional,” Valdez stated. “It was not on purpose. It might look like that, but it wasn’t.”
Despite Valdez’s claims, Story and the rest of the Red Sox feel like he did it on purpose.
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Trevor Story Says Framber Valdez’s HBP Is ‘Indisputable’
Following the aftermath of an unhappy Boston Red Sox team, Trevor Story was served a bit of justice, as Framber Valdez was ejected shortly after the benches cleared.
Story later spoke to the media about Valdez’s pitch to the shortstop’s back, saying that what he did was inexcusable.
“I was in there ready to hit and it showed up way behind me, off the numbers,” Story said. “I think we all know what’s what. It’s pretty indisputable.”
Story points out that he’s an old-fashioned ballplayer, and understands that there’s a time to play ‘beanball.’ However, this instance was not the appropriate time.
“It’s tough, because it’s a different game,” Story said. “There may be a time for it. I definitely don’t think that was the time for it. You never want to hit someone and hurt them. There’s a fine line there.”
The reporter mentions to Story that he’s not the kind of guy who usually gets hot like that, to which Story replied:
“We handled it,” Story said. “We said what we said on the field and I think that’s where it stays.”
Shortly after Story’s hit-by-pitch, his Boston teammates were ready to go to war for their veteran leader.
“Those are my guys. It means a lot to me. Those guys, we’re in this fight every day. We’re like brothers and we spend a lot of time together. It’s always good to see them have your back like that.”
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Red Sox Manager Chad Tracy Says Framber Valdez Threw At Story Intentionally: ‘It’s Weak’
Boston Red Sox manager did not beat around the bush when it came to addressing Framber Valdez intentionally hitting shortstop Trevor Story.
“Yes, I do think so,” said interim manager Chad Tracy when asked if he thought the pitch was intentional. “I thought it was weak and I thought everybody saw it. Their side, our side, I think everybody saw it. It was weak.”
“I would have been upset (if Valdez wasn’t ejected),” Tracy said. “I think with the situation, it was fairly obvious, so they did the right thing there.”
Valdez however, does not feel his ejection is justified.
“I (think) that it’s completely unfair,” Valdez said via a tweet from The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen. “First of all, they should have given me a warning… I do not expect to get suspended.”
Valdez tossed a four-seam fastball to Trevor Story, the first of the season for the left-handed pitcher. He has pitched in seven games so far.
The Red Sox and the Tigers continue their heated series on Wednesday at 6:40 P.M. EST.
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Boston Red Sox’s Trevor Story Sends Message To Framber Valdez After Benches Clear