Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Framber Valdez was taken to the cleaners tonight by the Red Sox offense, which piled on ten runs in the first four innings, ultimately beating the home side 10-3 and winning the three-game series with the finale yet to be played on Wednesday.
While Valdez was visibly frustrated with his performance on Tuesday night, an ill-thought-out and unnecessary action by the Dominican led to his ejection from the match. In the top of the fourth, after giving up two home runs, Valdez intentionally hit Trevor Story with a high, arcing fastball, which led to both benches clearing in a hurry.
While the situation didn’t escalate further as players from both sides separated Valdez and Story before they could confront each other on the field, the umpire quickly called out the LHP for his reckless act and ejected him from the contest. Valdez took the loss after giving up seven earned runs on nine hits and striking out just three in three IP.
Baseball fans also called out Valdez for his wild pitch to Story and expressed their anger over the entire series of events.
“This is why it took him so long to get signed. Dude is a piece of s—,” one fan commented.
“This is not the type of player you want on your roster. Last year “crosses” up his catcher and this year can’t take getting hit so he intentionally drills Story. Not the type of makeup I’d want when trying to construct a championship roster!” another fan commented.
“This is why I’m glad he left the Astros. He has issues in the head,” yet another fan commented.
Some fans criticized the Tigers for signing Valdez in the offseason, with one even saying the team deserved to finish last in the division for bringing the Dominican player on board.
“Valdez is a punk I thought it was a bad move when the Tigers signed him This team is going to end up in last place,” one fan commented.
“Glad the Cubs didn’t listen to me & sign him… I was wrong about his character not being an issue. Clearly a poor attitude that will affect a clubhouse,” another fan commented.
“Detroit deserves to lose every game this clown in on their roster,” yet another fan commented.
Framber Valdez Deemed His Ejection as ‘Completely Unfair’
When asked about the whole series of events that transpired in the fourth inning of the game in a postgame interview, Valdez was bold to dismiss any foul play from his end, refusing to admit that it was an intentional HBP, and terming his ejection as completely unfair.
“It was not intentional. It was not on purpose. It might look like that, but it wasn’t… I consider (the ejection) completely unfair given that, first of all, they should have given me a warning. And of course if it was on purpose, then I do it a second time or a third time, of course, I’m getting ejected,” Valdez said through an interpreter after the game.
If MLB determines that he intentionally hit Story, he could be suspended. The Tigers are already missing Reese Olson (shoulder), Justin Verlander (hip), Tarik Skubal (elbow), and Casey Mize (groin). Losing Valdez, even for just one game, would be a significant setback.
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