Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Framber Valdez (pictured) hit shortstop Trevor Story with a pitch in the top of the fourth inning of a loss to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in Detroit. File Photo by Maria Lysaker/UPI | License Photo
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy called the Detroit Tigers’ Framber Valdez “weak” for hitting shortstop Trevor Story with a pitch during a 10-2 Tigers loss.
Tracy made the comment in his postgame news conference after the victory Tuesday in Detroit. The fourth-inning hit-by-pitch triggered a benches-clearing clash on the first base line at Comerica Park.
“I thought it was weak, and I thought everybody saw it,” Tracy told reporters. “Their side, our side, I think everybody saw it. And yeah, it was weak.
Valdez said he did not intentionally hit Story with the 94-mph fastball. Tracy disagreed, while Story said he appreciated his teammates’ support.
“It was not intentional,” Valdez said. “It was not on purpose. It might look like that, but it wasn’t. I was trying to throw strikes after the two consecutive home runs. I was trying to go back in the zone, and that pitch came out of my hand. It wasn’t on purpose at all.”
Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela hit a three-run homer in the first inning for the first runs of the night. The Tigers answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
The Red Sox put their foes away with a five-run third innning. First baseman Willson Contreras and right fielder Wilyer Abreu added insurance to the Red Sox lead with back-to-back homers off Valdez to start the fourth inning. Story then walked to the plate to face the left-handed pitcher.
Valdez’s lone offering of that exchange went high-and-inside and hit Story’s left shoulder.
Story voiced his frustration with Valdez, who stood in front of the mound. Red Sox and Tigers players poured onto the field. They eventually separated and the game resumed.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch called the episode “a low moment of a frustrating night.”
“We play a really good brand of baseball here,” Hinch said. “That didn’t feel like it. It’s not judging intent. I have no idea. But I know when you go out on the field and you end up sort of in those confrontations, you usually feel like you’re in your right. And it didn’t feel good being out there.
“So I understand their frustrations. I understand the moment, and it was a low moment of a frustrating night.”
The Red Sox didn’t score for the remainder of the night. Catcher Dillon Dingler brought in the Tigers’ final run with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.
Abreu went 3 for 4, with an RBI, walk and two runs scored. Rafaela went 3 for 5, with four RBIs and two runs scored. Red Sox starter Jovani Moran allowed three hits and two runs in one inning of work. Valdez surrendered nine hits and 10 runs, including seven earned, over three innings to drop to 2-2 this season.
Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling was 2 for 4 with a solo home run in the loss.
The Tigers (18-19) will look to avoid a three-game sweep when they host the Red Sox (15-21) in the series finale at 6:40 p.m. EDT Wednesday in Detroit.
