Cade Cavalli Reacts to MLB Suspension for Willson Contreras Brawl During Nationals' Win vs. Red Sox

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli has been suspended seven games for his role in a benches-clearing incident primarily involving the right-hander and Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras during the Nats' 8-1 road win over the Sox on Tuesday evening.

On Friday, Cavalli spoke with reporters in the aftermath of the confrontation. Natalie Spala of 7News DC relayed the remarks from Cavalli, who appeared contrite while expressing a desire to make peace with Contreras.

"It's been a tough couple of days. It has been hard to sleep. I just never in a million years thought that I would be in this situation. You think of the character of this clubhouse is full of integrity, is full of love, and that's want we want to spread to everyone that walks in here. To think that, an instant where there was no ill intention that could distract those things that we value.

"It's hard. I have high respect for him. I'm not a guy that's ever going to hold a grudge. You know, I want to spread love in this world. That's part of who I am. That's what my heart is, and I wish him the best, and I hope we can move on from this and respect each other and pray over them.

"Hope he's doing OK. If I see him in person. You know, this is a conversation we're going to have. I think he understands that we're both high competitors, and it's part of what makes us who we are. That's nothing we shy away from, and we want to do it in a respectful way."

Per MLB, Cavalli and Contreras were each suspended seven games for their "actions initiating and during the benches-clearing incident." They also received undisclosed fines. Those two, plus Nats pitcher Miles Mikolas (five games) and Boston Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton (three games), are appealing their suspensions.

After the bottom of the first inning, Contreras appeared to cut off Cavalli as he was running back to the dugout. Three frames later, Cavalli struck Contreras out looking. He then was heard saying "sit down boy" to Contreras, who then started walking out to the mound asked Cavalli if he was speaking to him. One thing led to another, and both dugouts and bullpens cleared.

"He was instigating and I snapped," Contreras said, per Chris Cotillo of Mass Live. "That happened.

"I think it was more the fact that he yelled whatever he said. Prior to that, I was talking to [Nationals catcher 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 has since apologized for the use of the word "boy," per Ken Powtak of the Associated Press on Wednesday.

"My teammates know me, my family knows me, this organization knows me," Cavalli said. "I couldn't sleep because of it. 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."

The Nats and Red Sox played one more game in Boston on Wednesday (a 10-2 Washington win) without incident.