Willson Contreras suspended 7 games for bench-clearing altercation against Nationals

Two Boston Red Sox and two Washington Nationals players are facing suspensions for their involvement in a bench-clearing altercation during Tuesday night’s game at Fenway Park.Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras and Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli both received 7-game suspensions for their actions “initiating, during, and following” the benches-clearing incident, according to Michael Hill, Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball.Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton received a 3-game suspension for his actions, and Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas received a 5-game suspension.Each player received an undisclosed fine as part of his discipline and can file an appeal with the league.Cavalli struck out Contreras looking on a full-count pitch in the top of the fourth of what eventually became an 8-1 victory by the Nationals. The 27-year-old right-hander then shouted at Contreras as Contreras made his way back to the Boston dugout. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said he heard Cavalli yell “Sit down, boy” after fanning Contreras.Asked what his specific words to Contreras were, Cavalli told reporters, “I don’t know. I just lose my head in it. I’m competitive. I just told him to sit down.”The term “boy” has a racially charged history in the U.S. Contreras, who is Venezuelan, demurred when asked if he felt there was a racial component to Cavalli’s word choice.“To be honest, I don’t know,” Contreras said, later adding he plans to “let MLB handle that.”

BOSTON —

Two Boston Red Sox and two Washington Nationals players are facing suspensions for their involvement in a bench-clearing altercation during Tuesday night’s game at Fenway Park.

Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras and Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli both received 7-game suspensions for their actions “initiating, during, and following” the benches-clearing incident, according to Michael Hill, Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball.

Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton received a 3-game suspension for his actions, and Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas received a 5-game suspension.

Each player received an undisclosed fine as part of his discipline and can file an appeal with the league.

Cavalli struck out Contreras looking on a full-count pitch in the top of the fourth of what eventually became an 8-1 victory by the Nationals.

The 27-year-old right-hander then shouted at Contreras as Contreras made his way back to the Boston dugout.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said he heard Cavalli yell “Sit down, boy” after fanning Contreras.

Asked what his specific words to Contreras were, Cavalli told reporters, “I don’t know. I just lose my head in it. I’m competitive. I just told him to sit down.”

The term “boy” has a racially charged history in the U.S. Contreras, who is Venezuelan, demurred when asked if he felt there was a racial component to Cavalli’s word choice.

“To be honest, I don’t know,” Contreras said, later adding he plans to “let MLB handle that.”