"It was not intentional. It was not on purpose. It might look like that, but it wasn’t."
Framber Valdez was ejected from Tuesday’s game after hitting Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story with a pitch, sparking a benches-clearing incident during Detroit's 10-3 loss to Boston.
The Incident
The tension escalated in the fourth inning after Red Sox batters Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu hit back-to-back home runs off Valdez. Shortly after, a pitch from Valdez struck Story, leading players from both teams to converge on the field.
The Aftermath
Valdez, who signed a three-year, $115 million contract with the Tigers during the offseason, was promptly ejected from the game. His ERA jumped from 3.35 to 4.57 after he allowed 10 runs (seven earned) in just three innings.
Reactions
Valdez maintained the pitch was accidental, stating, "It was not intentional. It was not on purpose. It might look like that, but it wasn’t."
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged the optics of the situation without assigning blame: "I understand their frustration. I understand the optics. ... That didn’t feel good being out there."
Red Sox manager Chad Tracy was less diplomatic, calling the pitch "weak."
Context
Notably, Valdez had not thrown a four-seam fastball all season prior to the pitch that hit Story, adding to the scrutiny over its timing and intention.