Cade Cavalli, Willson Contreras suspended 7 games after Nationals-Red Sox brawl
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, who was ejected from Tuesday night’s game after a confrontation with Washington Nationals starter Cade Cavalli that led to a benches-clearing brawl, has been suspended seven games, Major League Baseball announced Thursday. Cavalli, who was not ejected Tuesday despite comments that the Red Sox felt incited the incident, was also suspended seven games.
On Tuesday, after striking out against Cavalli, Contreras charged the mound and threw his helmet after Cavalli yelled, “sit down, boy,” at Contreras. Cavalli yelled the phrase loudly enough that it was picked up by the NESN broadcast.
After the incident on Tuesday, Cavalli did not acknowledge he used the term “boy,” but the following day he apologized for the comments.
Red Sox utility man Nate Eaton and interim manager Chad Tracy were also ejected from the game, as was Nationals starter Miles Mikolas. Mikolas was given a five-game suspension and Eaton was suspended three games.
Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Wednesday morning that the team would not discipline Cavalli internally because they did not believe his intentions were to “demean someone in some racial way.”
On Tuesday night, Contreras said he did not know if what Cavalli said was racist and would “let MLB handle that.” The Nationals, desperate for pitching as is, will be without their Opening Day starter next Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is the first suspension of Cavalli’s career.
Contreras, a native of Venezuela who’s been active in fundraising efforts for his home country devastated by two massive earthquakes last week, had also been ejected on Monday night. First base umpire Nick Lentz deemed Contreras tapping his helmet after a strikeout as a mocking gesture.
It marked the first time in Red Sox history a player had been ejected on back-to-back days. It also marked the 11th ejection of Contreras’ career. The first baseman had been suspended for six games last year after an argument with an umpire, but appealed that suspension and eventually served only four games.
Contreras is a key piece of the Red Sox lineup at a crucial point in the season and losing him for any amount of time hurts the Red Sox.
The 34-year-old has been the heart of a scuffling Red Sox club this season after arriving via trade from the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason. He had started all but three games this season, posting a team-leading .905 OPS and 18 homers in what’s been the best season thus far of his career.