BOSTON \u2014 There\u2019s nothing wrong with a big-league ballplayer getting sick and tired of being drilled over and over and over by the same team. The problem is when said ballplayer stands before a gathering of media and announces he plans to \u201ctake one of them out\u201d the next time it happens, as though we\u2019re watching a \u201cGoodfellas\u201d sequel.<\/p>\n
And so when Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras spoke those very words Monday night, after being grazed by Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff, it instantly brought an added measure of intrigue to Tuesday\u2019s meeting between the teams.<\/p>\n
Unofficially, it was \u201cWatch Willson Contreras Take Someone Out Night.\u201d But Contreras was not hit in any of his four plate appearances in Boston\u2019s 3-2 victory over the Brewers, and, as such, he felt no need to take anyone out. This was win-win for the Red Sox.<\/p>\n
Keeping in mind the teams wrap up the series Wednesday afternoon at Fenway, the Red Sox should be extremely grateful to get out of Tuesday\u2019s game without needing to pull Contreras off some fallen Brewer. Having already announced what he intended to do if he got hit again by the Brewers, Contreras had essentially delivered a case file to MLB. Given how poorly the Red Sox have come out of the gate \u2014 with Tuesday\u2019s victory, they\u2019re 3-8 \u2014 the last thing they need is for Contreras to be suspended.<\/p>\n
But the Red Sox were able to celebrate a crisis-free victory. Ace lefty Garrett Crochet delivered 6 1\/3 strong innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven. Right-handers Zack Kelly and Garrett Whitlock and lefty Aroldis Chapman kept the Brewers from tying the game. The embattled Trevor Story came through with a two-run double. As for the 33,193 fans who sat through this bone-chilling night, most of them went home happy. (Two Brewers fans, both in fan garb, came out of the evening unhappy with the outcome but with plans to live happily ever after, this after the gal said yes to the guy on bended knee, the whole thing getting the between-innings star treatment on the center-field flat screen.)<\/p>\n
But the bonus for Sox fans is that there was no Willson Contreras news. The Brewers didn\u2019t throw at him, so he didn\u2019t throw any of \u2018em down. Considering all the huffin\u2019 and puffin\u2019 he did after Monday\u2019s game, this one could have been a disaster. Instead, this will be remembered as one of the most important victories of the young season if the Red Sox go on a run of graceful baseball.<\/p>\n
Why was it so important?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need the big boy in the lineup,\u201d Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before Tuesday\u2019s game. Yep. Contreras is hitting just .250 after going 1-for-2 Tuesday night, but he crushed a home run in his final at-bat Monday night and has driven in four runs. He\u2019s expected to be an important presence in the Boston lineup this season.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s more at play than keeping Contreras in the lineup. Just as important is keeping cool in the clubhouse. The Sox lost a ton of veteran leadership when Alex Bregman turned out to be one-and-done and signed with the Chicago Cubs, and you\u2019d think a guy with Contreras\u2019s resume \u2014 this is the 11th season of his big-league career, which began with being a member of the 2016 World Series champion Cubs \u2014 could fill at least some of that void. But revisiting old grudges against the Brewers from his days with the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals accomplishes nothing.<\/p>\n