Willson Contreras Addresses Red Sox Ejection After Cade Cavalli Altercation, Brawl with Nationals

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras spoke with reporters after being ejected in the bottom of the fourth inning following an altercation with Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli during the Nats' 8-1 win on Tuesday.

"He struck me (out) on a good pitch, I was walking back to the dugout, and then he did what did, and the rest was history. … He was like, instigating, and I snapped," Contreras said, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald.

This situation was a bit more complicated than your typical ejection, and it began in the first inning.

After Cavalli got Jarren Duran to fly out to left to end the frame, Contreras, who had been on second base during the at-bat, ran past the Nats' starting pitcher. He cut him off and almost appeared to brush by him.

Three innings later, Cavalli struck Contreras out looking to get the second out of the fourth inning. Cavalli then said something to Contreras, who responded to the remarks.

One thing led to another, and both dugouts and benches cleared. Contreras also threw his helmet toward a group of Nationals.

Four people were ejected: Contreras, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy, Boston outfielder Nate Eaton and Nats pitcher Miles Mikolas.

Multiple people involved had things to say about the first inning interaction and the fourth-inning dust-up.

Starting with the first inning, Cavalli had this to say about Contreras' actions.

Contreras told reporters he immediately apologized to Cavalli after it happened. Tracy said Contreras did as well.

"Did he apologize?" Cavalli asked postgame, per Marcos Grunfeld of El Emergente. "I never got an apology from anybody."

Cavalli also had this to say in addition while noting the significant pain and hardship that Contreras, who is Venezuelan, is enduring after his home country was hit by an earthquake that has killed at least 1,900 people and at least 10,000, per CNN.

"I mean, we're all extremely competitive," Cavalli added. "It's a competitive environment out there. Um, I don't know if you guys saw what he did in the first inning. I'm walking off the field. It's just part of the game. We have respect for each other. I have extreme respect for him. My heart goes out to Venezuela. I understand what he's going through. Um, it breaks my heart what he's going through, but there's a certain level of respect that you have for other players, and I have respect for him. Um, but you don't run by me and just brush me while I'm going off the field. It's just not something you do in this game. Um, and I didn't say anything in the moment, and, you know, I strike him out, words were said. Um, we don't want that to happen. We were just competitive."

In the fourth inning, Cavalli was heard saying "sit down boy" to Contreras, which led to him walking toward the mound and asking the pitcher if he was talking to him. Tracy confirmed that phrase after the game.

Contreras, Tracy and Cavalli all had remarks postgame on the fourth inning interactions, per Chris Cotillo of Mass Live.

"He was instigating and I snapped," Contreras said. "That happened.

"I think it was more the fact that he yelled whatever he said. Prior to that, I was talking to Keibert Ruiz — and you can go ask him — how good that guy is. He has good stuff. I even asked him if he was a trade guy or farm guy, like raised from the farm. He struck me out on a good pitch. I was walking back to the dugout and he did what he did. The rest was history."

Cavalli had this to say, per Cotillo.

"I just told him to sit down. He asked if I was talking to him. I said, 'Yeah, you heard me.' I was just standing there and said, 'You heard me.' It's really not a big deal.

"I thought he would just hear me and understand we're competitive. People tell everybody to 'sit down' at some point in their career. It's not a big deal."

Tracy said this, per Cotillo, stressing that he thought the phrase was what got Contreras fired up:

"I felt as though the comment made — 'Sit down boy,' at the top of your lungs — was part of what caused that to happen," Tracy said. "Understood after everything that happened the people they chose that were going to leave the game. I just felt like the other pitcher should have been one of them, too.

"I heard that from where I was sitting," he added. "Interesting choice of words. I don't know how many he struck out at that point and (he chose) that choice of words in that spot right there. Players nowadays yell and scream about stuff but not having said a word and then happens, I just felt like that was part of the equation and I don't know why he was still in the game."

As for the game, the Nats won 8-1, and Cavalli got the win after throwing seven innings of one-run ball while striking out 13. The two teams are back at Fenway Park Wednesday for a 1:35 p.m. ET matchup.