Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli and Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras received seven-game suspensions after a benches-clearing altercation on Tuesday.
In the fourth inning of the Nationals’ 8-1 win at Fenway Park, Cavalli struck out Contreras and appeared to direct a comment toward him, which frustrated the Red Sox first baseman and led him to charge at the pitcher. The benches emptied as five Red Sox teammates pulled Contreras away, prompting multiple interventions to de-escalate the situation. Contreras also threw his helmet in Cavalli’s direction.
Many fans argued that Contreras was the instigator and should have received the seven-game suspension alone.
In addition to Cavalli and Contreras, Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas received a five-game suspension, while Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton was suspended for three games.
Cade Cavalli’s Reaction On The Benches-Clearing Incident
Speaking to media after the incident, Cade Cavalli accused Willson Contreras of ‘brushing’ him and claimed that his resulting outburst was just ‘part of the game.’
“He’s just been doing stuff. In the first inning, he just runs past me and brushes me. It’s just something you don’t do in baseball. I think he knows that. I didn’t say anything. I just looked at him.
“And a few words were said after the strikeout. It’s part of the game. And he’s going to let everybody run out there and try and do whatever he does, throw a helmet and get himself tossed,” Cavalli said.
On the other hand, Red Sox’s interim manager Chad Tracy felt that Cavalli should have been ejected from the game as well, alongside Conteras. He said to reporters:
“After everything that happened, the people that they chose that were going to leave the game, I just felt like the other pitcher should have been one of them too.”
The Red Sox ended up losing the series against the Nationals, going 1-2 at home in Fenway Park.
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