Major League Baseball (MLB) announced four suspensions on Thursday following a benches-clearing brawl between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. Boston first baseman Willson Contreras and Washington starter Cade Cavalli each received seven-game suspensions and undisclosed fines for their involvement in the altercation during the fourth inning of the game, which the Nationals won 8-1.
The incident began when Cavalli struck out Contreras and yelled, "Sit down, boy," prompting Contreras to charge the mound and throw his batting helmet at Cavalli, leading to both teams emptying their benches.
MLB also suspended Nationals right-hander Miles Mikolas for five games and Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton for three games, both of whom were fined and ejected during the game. All suspensions are set to begin on Friday.
The Red Sox will face the Anaheim Angels in a three-game series starting Friday, while the Nationals will host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Contreras's suspension is expected to have a more immediate impact on the Red Sox lineup compared to the other players.
Cavalli expressed regret over his comments, acknowledging the historical implications of the word he used and emphasizing his desire to set a positive example for young fans. Contreras had recently faced emotional challenges, having been ejected from a previous game and discussing the stress caused by earthquakes in Venezuela, his home country.
Any appeals against the suspensions would postpone their enforcement until MLB completes its review process.