Mariners' Josh Naylor Alleges Intentional HBP by Tigers' Montero, Says Framber Valdez Was Laughing

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor believes Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero intentionally hit him with a 96 mph fastball on Saturday.

In addition, Naylor said that Detroit left-hander Framber Valdez was laughing at him on the bench afterward, which inspired his belief that Montero meant to hit him.

Tim Booth of the Seattle Times provided some insight about Naylor and the Tigers following some theatrics earlier in the week:

"Naylor always plays with an edge that can annoy opponents, which seems to be the reason a fastball from Keider Montero came up and in the next time Naylor was at the plate. It likely could have been for the play at the plate. It also could have been for Friday's game where Naylor was doing his usual antics on the bases and had a glancing collision at first base in the field with Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle."

Naylor apparently tossed his sliding mitt at Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler on Saturday when he slid home and scored on Randy Arozarena's two-RBI double.

Naylor provided an explanation for it afterward, per Jason Beck of MLB.com.

"I couldn't get [the mitt] on in time at first base," Naylor said. "I really didn't expect Randy to swing at the first pitch. And then I forgot about it as I was running the bases. Then I noticed I had it on the video, and it just flew, and I felt really bad. I just totally blanked on it."

Dingler offered his view, saying: "I didn't know what happened in real time. I didn't see it until somebody brought up the video when we were back in the dugout after the inning. …Honestly, I missed the tag, and I didn't put myself in the best position possible. Honestly, it wasn't that big of a deal."

Putting the Naylor drama aside, this has been a frustrating year for Detroit, which ended last season with a dramatic five-game ALDS loss to Seattle.

Now the Tigers face a significant uphill battle just to make the playoffs after a 26-39 start that has the team tied with the Kansas City Royals for last in the AL Central.

As for the M's, they started slow but have improved of late, finding themselves atop the AL West at 34-31 following a 9-2 stretch.

The Mariners and Tigers have split the first two games of their series. The rubber match will take place on Sunday in Detroit at 1:40 p.m. ET.