There was drama at Fenway Park on Tuesday after a Washington Nationals pitcher jawed at Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, calling him “boy.”

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Cade Cavalli struck out Contreras looking on a 3-2 pitch. Contreras took a couple of steps toward the Red Sox dugout on the first base side, but suddenly turned to Cavalli after the pitcher, a white man from Oklahoma, was heard yelling at Contreras, a Venezuelan immigrant, “Sit down, boy!”

Historically, ‘boy’ has been used as an epithet by white people against Black men. Contreras is not Black, but is nonetheless a person of color.

Contreras then slowly made his way toward Cavalli as the benches and the bullpens emptied. Some of the players were pushing and shoving during the brouhaha, with Contreras throwing his helmet at Cavalli or one of the other Nationals players.

New England Sports Network broadcasters Dave O’Brien and Will Middlebrooks noted what Cavalli had shouted at Contreras, and Middlebrooks suggested that someone on the Nationals may have made an additional comment to Contreras that set him off.

It was the second night in a row in which Contreras had been ejected.

“He was just seeing red at that point,” Middlebrooks said before breaking down a slow-motion replay of the incident while O’Brien called Cavalli’s remarks “classless.” Middlebrooks noted that Contreras has been emotional amid the ongoing search and rescue efforts in his native Venezuela after a devastating earthquake:

MIDDLEBROOKS: He said it and stared at him, kinda caught Contreras off guard after getting frozen by the breaking ball. And he’s just saying like, “Why are you yelling at me? What’s going on?” And then I don’t know what else was said right here, because that’s when he snapped.

O’BRIEN: Well, Cavalli going out of his way to antagonize him after the strikeout. I don’t know any player that isn’t going to react to that.

MIDDLEBROOKS: Well, they know he’s emotionally on edge right now with everything that is going on in Venezuela. He’s been vocal and very emotional since all that has gone down, but–

O’BRIEN: Well, it’s a classless thing to say.

MIDDLEBROOKS: In no way am I justifying what has happened with Contreras.

O’BRIEN: Sure.

MIDDLEBROOKS: You could take exception to him talking to you like that, because him being like, “Who are you? Why are you talking to me like that?” But whatever was said after that escalated things.

Middlebrooks speculated that given Contreras’s history of ejections, the Nationals may have been deliberately antagonizing him.

Watch above via New England Sports Network.

The post Brawl Breaks Out at Fenway After White Pitcher Tells Venezuelan Batter, ‘Sit Down, Boy!’ first appeared on Mediaite.

Ken Rosenthal Explains Why Red Sox 'Can Dream' Of Improbable Playoff Run originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For much of this season, the playoffs have felt like a pipe dream for the Boston Red Sox, who sank to the worst record in the American League last week.

After a five-game winning streak, however, the Red Sox are suddenly very much alive. Despite being nine games below .500, they enter play on Tuesday 4.5 games out of a wild card spot and with a roughly 20 percent chance of making the postseason, according to FanGraphs.

Given how weak the American League is this year, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal thinks Boston is still a playoff contender despite the team's rough first half.

The Red Sox have a long way to go, but you can't write them off in a watered-down American League. pic.twitter.com/BXWHpS65s8

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 30, 2026

"When a team like the Red Sox suddenly plays a little bit better, their roster is in a little bit better place...they're four and a half games out of the wild card in a bad league, yeah, they can dream," Rosenthal said on Tuesday's episode of "Foul Territory." "The team holding the third wild card spot in the American League right now is a .500 team... Anything is theoretically possible here."

Entering play on Tuesday, only five AL teams are above .500. Six teams are within five games of the third wild card spot, so most of the league is still in contention, including the Red Sox.

Boston has underperformed thus far relative to its talent level and expectations. Based on run differential, the Red Sox should be one game over .500 instead of nine games under.

They also have a soft schedule until the All-Star Break, which could help them stay hot and make up some ground over the next two weeks. If they do that and get some help at the trade deadline, it's not hard to envision them going on a run in the second half and potentially snagging a wild card berth.

More MLB: Historic Pitching Streak Fueling Red Sox's Remarkable Turnaround

What Are Red Sox's Postseason Chances After Five Game Win Streak? originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox got off to a very slow start to the season, but are still hanging around in a very weak American League.

On the eve of July 1, only five teams in the AL have a winning record. The Red Sox sit 4 1/2 games out of a wild card spot, with five teams ahead of them. There is still plenty of season left, and the Red Sox have some hope after showing life and winning five straight games, including a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees.

The Red Sox still have plenty of ground to make up, but their postseason chances have gone from 9.7% on June 18 to 20.6% entering play on Tuesday, according to FanGraphs.

While their chances are still slim, they have a few reasons to believe they can make a push. For one, the starting rotation has been lights out. Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle and Sonny Gray have all been phenomenal, and Garrett Crochet should return at some point.

Additionally, the offense could get Roman Anthony, Trevor Story and Romy González back at some point. González is more of a utility player, and Story was struggling before his injury, but Anthony could genuinely turn the entire season around. He was not playing great before his injury, but he is the face of the franchise now and has the potential to go on a tear.

He was amazing last year and was a superstar in the World Baseball Classic. If he can come back and provide some more power, the Red Sox could be set up with elite pitching and a scary offense.

Not to mention, if they can pull within three games of a wild card spot in the next couple of weeks, they could be serious buyers at the trade deadline.

More MLB: Caleb Durbin's Numbers Starting To Make Red Sox Look Good For Letting Alex Bregman Walk

Red Sox Wilyer Abreu Speaks On Playing Through Venezuelan Crisis originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One of the greatest things about sports is the ability to take our minds away from whatever is happening in the world and get behind a common goal for three hours. 

But for the players on the field, it is a lot easier said than done. 

The Boston Red Sox roster is chock full of Venezuelan talent. The country of Venezuela was rocked by an earthquake over the weekend, and 50,000 people are still missing. 

On more than one occasion, right fielder Wilyer Abreu has used his platform to raise awareness about the crisis. 

After Boston's fifth straight win, he told NESN's Jahmai Webster that it has not been easy for him and his teammates.

"It's very hard to play right now with everything that is going on in Venezuela," Abreu said. "We are doing everything we can to stay focused on the game. It's very emotional. 

"We feel like we're there trying to support everything we can. We are trying to do whatever it takes to stay focused on the game, but it's hard to play like that."

Abreu had a run and an RBI in the Red Sox's 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals. 

Wilyer Abreu gives @WebsterOnTV a very honest answer about playing baseball right now 💔

"It's very hard to play right now with everything that's going on in Venezuela, but we're doing everything we can to stay focused on the game."

🤝 presented by @WBMasonCopic.twitter.com/M6b7Z4snB1

— NESN (@NESN) June 30, 2026

More MLB: Willson Contreras Apologizes To Nationals For Bat Flip, 'It Was For My Country'

Willson Contreras Apologizes To Nationals For Bat Flip, 'It Was For My Country' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras has been playing with a heavy heart this week after earthquakes rocked his home country of Venezuela. More than 50,000 people remain missing as the death toll rises every day. 

Contreras has been vocal in his activism for his home country, but has not missed a game since the crisis unfolded. 

On Monday night, he stepped into the batter's box in the first inning and launched a 421-foot home run. 

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It was a moment he said he prayed to God for. After barreling up the Miles Mikolas pitch, Contreras sent his bat sky high with a two-handed bat flip. 

He made sure to tell reporters that he was not trying to show up Mikolas or the Washington Nationals. 

"It was nothing against the Nationals. I apologize to them if they felt the bat flip was wrong," Contreras said. "And to Mikolas. He is a great friend of mine, I don't think he took it personally. But I apologize to them anyway.

"I was thinking of my country. Thinking of so many kids that have died. So many people that have died. And it's not easy to be dealing with."

Mikolas and Contreras were teammates for three years in St. Louis.

Willson Contreras with a powerful postgame scrum 🇻🇪💪

🤝 presented by @WBMasonCopic.twitter.com/7tAvnP4KsW

— NESN (@NESN) June 30, 2026

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Umpire Who Absurdly Ejected Willson Contreras Has Track Record originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was ejected in the second inning of Monday night's game against the Washington Nationals. 

Contreras, who homered in the first inning, struck out on a check swing. When the home plate umpire went to the first base umpire to appeal the K, Contreras disagreed with his decision. 

On the way back to Boston's dugout, Contreras simply tapped his head so as to signify he would like to challenge the call. 

This act alone got him tossed from the game with seven innings to play. 

Tim Healey of the Boston Globe did some digging on umpire Nic Lentz, and as it turns out, Lentz has a history of quick hooks. 

Umpire Nic Lentz, who ejected Willson Contreras for tapping his helmet tonight, also ejected the Rays' Taylor Walls for tapping his helmet earlier this season. https://t.co/BN5T5TtBN5

— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) June 30, 2026

In this instance, on June 1, 2025, Walls was ejected for "tapping his helmet" during his at-bat before the implementation of the ABS Challenge. 

Contreras took it a lot better than Walls did. The Tampa Bay Rays batter had to be held back by multiple members of the coaching staff after being caught on the hot mic saying his fair share of expletives. 

All fans agree that there needs to be some sort of punishment for an umpire who takes over the game like Lentz did tonight. No one is there to watch him. 

More MLB: Willson Contreras Bawls In Red Sox Dugout After Clobbering First Inning HR

Red Sox Promote 19-Yr-Old Catcher Prospect Hitting .427 In Rookie Ball originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox signed Venezuelan native Franklin Primera to a minor league contract two years ago when he was just 17 years old. 

Primera played 45 games of rookie ball in 2025. He batted .333, averaging one hit every game, but never showed the slugging.

That is not the case this season for Primera, who turned 19 this month. 

The Venezuelan catcher has played 32 games in the Florida Complex League, a rookie-level Minor League Baseball circuit. He's batting .427 on the season with an OPS of 1.267 and eight home runs. 

Primera's efforts have earned him a trip out of rookie ball after being promoted to the Red Sox's Low-A affiliate, the Salem RidgeYaks, as reported by Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com.

"Primera, the SoxProspects.com Player of the Week in the last two editions of this post, continues to dominate the Florida complex league," a SoxProspects.com article posted before his promotion read. "In 28 games, he is hitting .461/.581/.798 with eight home runs, leading the circuit in all three of the slash categories. During his current 16-game hitting streak (excluding Saturday's suspended game), he is an astonishing 26 for 55 with 22 runs scored and 25 RBI, with seven home runs, four doubles, and twice as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (four), adding up to a .509/.592/.964 surge."

The RidgeYaks season lasts well into September, so Primera should have every opportunity to continue his farm system climb.

More MLB: Red Sox Pitching Coach Andrew Bailey 'In Awe' Of Red Sox Rotation 

Marc Bertrand Claims Red Sox Sweep Over Yankees Means 'Absolutely Nothing' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox may have saved their season by completing a four-game sweep over the New York Yankees. Marc Bertrand doesn't seem convinced that the series will spark a midseason turnaround.

Boston is just 4.5 games away from the American League's last wild-card spot after beating the Yankees four straight times at Fenway Park. They're one of only five AL teams with a positive run differential (+5) after outscoring their long-time rivals 21-9.

Red Sox fans are riding high from a successful weekend, but Bertrand tried to temper any excitement during Monday's "Zolak & Bertrand" on 98.5 The Sports Hub.

"The Red Sox sweep the Yankees, and it means absolutely nothing," Bertrand claimed. "It doesn't mean anything."

Bertrand appears to see the latest hot streak as too little, too late for the Red Sox. The radio host doesn't think they should start planning to buy before the trade deadline because they swept the Yankees.

"They've won seven of 10. It doesn't mean they're back in it," Bertrand continued. "It doesn't mean they're capable of competing for a playoff spot. It doesn't mean they're getting themselves back into the wild-card race ... It changes absolutely nothing."

Or it could change everything for a team scuffling to build momentum throughout the first half. 

The Red Sox had gone 6-17 against the American League East before snatching four straight wins over the Yankees, who began the series boasting the AL's best record. Boston was also 12-25 at home to start the series and 5-12 in one-run games before Sunday night's 5-4 victory in extra innings.

FanGraphs now gives the Red Sox an 18 percent chance of making the playoffs, up from 9.7 percent after the Jays completed a sweep over them on June 18.

Boston's work remains far from finished, but sweeping the Yankees could prove the catalyst to a second-half run. The Red Sox will try to sustain that goodwill during a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.

More MLB: Ken Rosenthal Explains Why Resurgent Red Sox Are Suddenly 'Really Interesting'