'Emotional' Contreras apologizes for on-field flap...
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- Willson Contreras delivered an emotional apology through his interpreter Saturday for his role in two bench-clearing incidents against the Yankees and Nationals the prior week, saying the situations "could have been avoided and controlled and handled better."
- Contreras is appealing the seven-game suspension MLB issued him for Tuesday night's confrontation with Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli.
- Cavalli shouted at Contreras after striking him out looking on a full-count pitch; Contreras threw his helmet at Cavalli and approached the mound, emptying both dugouts and bullpens.
- A prior weekend incident saw benches clear when Contreras stared down Yankees starter Will Warren, though that confrontation did not escalate further.
- Contreras hit a three-run homer in the first inning Saturday — his 19th of the season — against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
- Fighting back tears, Contreras cited both the on-field turmoil and news that his native Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes during the same week.
Why it matters: Contreras's appeal leaves the seven-game suspension unresolved, and his on-the-record admission that he could have "handled it better" gives MLB a basis to reduce rather than fully enforce the ban. With 19 homers already this season, the Red Sox have a vested interest in keeping their first baseman on the field rather than serving a full suspension.
