The Boston Red Sox are beyond frustrated by the start of their 2026 MLB season.
After an 8-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, April 6, the Red Sox sit 2-8 and in the cellar of the AL East.
The frustration boiled over in the third inning. Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff hit Boston first baseman Willson Contreras on the hand. Contreras’ brother, William Contreras, was behind the plate for the Brewers.
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When he got to first base, Willson Contreras yelled at Woodruff. Later in the inning, he slid hard into Milwaukee shortstop David Hamilton on a force play, tearing his pants.
Contreras issued a warning to the Brewers, who have hit him 24 times in his career, after the game.
“They always say, ‘I’m not trying to hit you,”’ Contreras said. “That gets old. So, next time they hit me again, I’m going to take one of them out. That’s a message.”
There is a long history between Contreras and the Brewers. He spent his first 10 seasons playing for Milwaukee rivals in the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.
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Milwaukee pitchers have hit Contreras 10 more times than any other team, per MLB.com. Woodruff alone struck him six times.
On the other hand, the Brewers doubted the pitch even hit Contreras. Consequently, they challenged the call, which was upheld.
Still, Milwaukee is accustomed to Contreras threats.
“I mean, we’ve seen that skit for the last 10 years,” Brewers slugger Christian Yelich said, per ESPN. “It’s nothing new.”
However, the controversy didn’t adversely affect Contreras’ play. He went 3-for-3 with a home run, double and two RBIs. Contreras added a walk and the hit by pitch, which means he reached base five times.
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Garrett Mitchell sent the Brewers ahead for good with a two-run single in the eighth inning. As a result, Milwaukee is tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball at 8-2.
Milwaukee and Boston meet again at 6:45 p.m. ET Tuesday at Fenway Park.