Willson Contreras, Cade Cavalli Slapped With 7-Game Suspensions Following Benches Clearing Brawl

Willson Contreras and Cade Cavalli got into an argument as the latter yelled at the former after striking him out in the 4th inning on Tuesday.

Willson Contreras, Cade Cavalli Slapped With 7-Game Suspensions Following Benches Clearing Brawl

Willson Contreras and Cade Cavalli (Image via MLB/X@FoulTerritory)

On Tuesday, things got heated between the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals. Willson Contreras, the Red Sox catcher, got into an argument with Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli, leading to a benches-clearing incident. Both of these stars were slapped with a 7-game suspension on Thursday.

In the game on Tuesday at Fenway Park, the two stars had a moment in the first inning. Contreras was said to have brushed off the pitcher while walking back to the dugout.

The catcher was then involved in the opening run for this team. After hitting a routine grounder, 3rd baseman Curtis Mead had a fumble in the infield, allowing Contreras to reach first base safely and Anthony Seigler to score from third base.

The tempers boiled over in the 4th inning. On a 3-2 count, Cavalli threw an 87 mph sweeper that stayed in the zone. Contreras did not swing at the pitch and struck out.

As he was making his way back to the dugout, Cavalli was heard shouting, “sit down boy.” Contreras did not like this comment from the opposition pitcher and confronted him.

Within seconds, the benches got cleared. The two sets of players got on the field and tried to separate him and Cavalli. During this, Contreras ran towards the crowd, jumped a bit, and hurled his helmet in the direction of Cavalli.

After things calmed down a bit, Contreras was ejected from the game. The 34-year-old was also removed from the game on Monday. He thus became the first Red Sox star to be ejected in back-to-back games.

Meanwhile, Cavalli remained in the game. The pitcher ended up throwing 7 innings and gave up just 1 hit and had a career-high 13 strikeouts. The Nationals ran out as 8-1 winners.

It was likely that disciplinary action would be taken against Contreras. The Venezuelan international was handed a 7-game suspension for his part in this brawl. Cavalli was penalized with the same amount. Meanwhile, Miles Mikolas (Nationals) and Nate Eaton (Red Sox) were handed 5-game and 3-game suspensions, respectively.

All the players involved are reported to be appealing the decision. This discipline will not start until the appeals process is complete.

This is not the first time Contreras has been suspended by the league. Last year, he was given a 6-game ban following an argument with an umpire. Upon appealing the decision, the suspension was reduced to 4-games.

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Cade Cavalli was feeling terrible for yelling at Willson Contreras

Cade Cavalli found himself in the spotlight this week following his incident with Willson Contreras. The pitcher yelled, “sit down boy,” after striking out the Boston Red Sox star, which sparked a huge brawl. The pitcher later expressed that he was feeling terrible about this.

Cade Cavalli and Willson Contreras
Cade Cavalli and Willson Contreras (Image via X/@JustBB_Media/MLB)

Cavalli’s comments were not received well by some people. While speaking with the reporters on Wednesday, the pitcher stated that he did not know that his words would be perceived as racial slurs.

I’m extremely torn up about the way that things were perceived. Obviously, there was no ill intention behind that. It hurt my heart, knowing that, if there’s a 13-year-old Black kid in D.C. that sees that — that looked up to me and thinks that he perceived it in a way that wasn’t intended the way that it came out, and then he’s not looking up to me anymore. That hurts my heart.

Cade Cavalli told the reporters as per The Athletic

He further expressed that he had not reached out to Contreras after the incident. He, however, hoped that his message reached him.

As for Contreras, he did not speak with the reporters before the game on Wednesday or on Thursday. Following the incident on Tuesday, he stated that he would not make any comments regarding Cavalli’s words, as he felt that it would be used against him.

The rubber game on Wednesday was won by the Washington Nationals. The National League side won 10-2 and improved their record to 45-43. The Red Sox, on the other hand, remained at the bottom of the AL East standings with a 37-48 record.

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