Red Sox manager: Valdez 'weak' for hitting Tigers' Story with fastball
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy called the Detroit Tigers' Framber Valdez "weak" for hitting Trevor Story with a pitch during a 10-2 loss.
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 May 6 (UPI) -- 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.