Detroit — Tigers starting pitcher Framber Valdez received a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine from Major League Baseball on Wednesday for throwing at Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story on Tuesday night.
Valdez will miss a start with the suspension — it will begin Wednesday, unless Valdez decides to appeal — just as the Tigers’ starting staff is decimated with injuries.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch also received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for Valdez’s intentional actions. Hinch served his suspension on Wednesday.
Valdez, who also got had allowed eight runs Wednesday when he came on for the fourth inning and allowed consecutive home runs to Boston’s Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreau.
Valdez’s next pitch was straight at Story’s back, and there appeared to be little doubt of what Valdez’s intent was with the pitch.
Benches and bullpens from both sides emptied but there were no punches thrown. Valdez was ejected from the game.
Hinch, in his pre-game media briefing Wednesday, called it a frustrating night for Valdez and the team.
“It was an emotional night for him and us,” Hinch said. “I’ll talk to him between now and his next start. I know he holds himself to a high bar. It’s difficult when you put yourself in that position and all of a sudden the talk and the conversation is still there a day later.
“But it is what it is and you have to deal with your circumstances that you can be better at.”
Hinch was expecting some sort of discipline from the league for Valdez.
“Generally, when you have an event like last night, where there’s disruption in play and guys are kicked out of the game for throwing at somebody, that doesn’t come for free,” Hinch said.
There was speculation Valdez may have been tipping his pitches and the Red Sox were relaying the grip Valdez was using.
“It’s all fair,” Hinch said. “The best way to combat that is to clean up your own glove and your own pitches. If they were, that still falls on us.”
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers’ Framber Valdez, manager AJ Hinch get suspensions for throwing at Red Sox hitter
Reporting by Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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