On Thursday, Major League Baseball suspended Cade Cavalli of the Washington Nationals and Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox for seven games each. The suspensions stem from a benches-clearing incident during a game on Tuesday at Fenway Park. Cavalli's comment, reportedly directed at Contreras, ignited the altercation that led to multiple ejections.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred in the fourth inning of the Nationals' 8-1 victory over the Red Sox. After striking out Contreras, Cavalli allegedly shouted, “Sit down, boy,” prompting the benches to clear. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed he heard the remark, which has historical racial connotations.
Following the brawl, both Cavalli and Contreras were restrained by teammates, and each player received a seven-game suspension. Additionally, Nationals right-hander Miles Mikolas received a five-game ban, while Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton was suspended for three games.
Cavalli's Apology and Reaction
Cavalli, 27, expressed regret for his comment, stating, “I couldn't sleep because of it. It hurt my heart.” He emphasized his intent was not to be disrespectful and acknowledged the weight of the term used. “There’s a history behind that word,” he explained. “It’ll never happen again.”
