MLB drops hammer on Boston’s Willson Contreras with hefty suspension after helmet-throwing incident
Major League Baseball issued four suspensions Thursday following a bench-clearing brawl between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
Boston first baseman Willson Contreras and Washington starter Cade Cavalli received seven-game suspensions and undisclosed fines for their roles in the fourth-inning altercation.
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Willson Contreras reacts with interim team coach José David Flores after being ejected in the fourth inning against the Nationals. (Photo: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) ((Photo: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images))
The suspensions stemmed from an incident during Washington’s 8-1 win on Tuesday, when Cavalli fired a full-count pitch at Contreras and yelled, “Sit down, kid.”
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Contreras responded by charging to the mound, then fired his batting helmet toward Cavalli, clearing both the benches and the bullpen.
MLB also disciplined two players who left the dugout and were involved in a separate fight.
Willson Contreras reacts during a bench-clearing altercation against the Nationals at Fenway Park in Boston. (Photo: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) ((Photo: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images))
Nationals right-hander Miles Mikolas was suspended for five games, and Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton was suspended for three games. Both players were fined undisclosed amounts and were ejected during the game.
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All four suspensions are scheduled to begin Friday.
The Red Sox open a three-game series in Anaheim on Friday, while the Nationals will host the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Boston is expected to feel the impact more quickly. Cavalli and Mikolas will likely miss just one outing throughout the rotation, while Contreras will be out of the Red Sox lineup for a week.
Willson Contreras speaks with interim team coach José David Flores after being ejected following innings-clearing drama in the fourth inning. (Photo: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) ((Photo: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images))
Cavalli apologized Wednesday, saying he regretted using the word “boy” and that he now understands the historical weight of the word. He added that the incident kept him awake that night because he wanted to set an example for young fans. National officials also took up the matter with the right-hander.
Contreras, meanwhile, entered Tuesday’s game after an emotional stretch. The veteran lead goalkeeper was ejected the night before for disputing a controlled kick call and has also spoken publicly about the stress of devastating earthquakes in his home country of Venezuela.
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Any appeals will delay suspensions until MLB’s review process is completed.
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