May 6 (UPI) -- Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy called the Detroit Tigers' Framber Valdez "weak" for hitting shortstop Trevor Story with a pitch during a 10-2 Tigers loss.
Tracy made the comment in his postgame news conference after the victory Tuesday in Detroit. The fourth-inning hit-by-pitch triggered a benches-clearing clash on the first base line at Comerica Park.
"I thought it was weak, and I thought everybody saw it," Tracy told reporters. "Their side, our side, I think everybody saw it. And yeah, it was weak.
Valdez said he did not intentionally hit Story with the 94-mph fastball. Tracy disagreed, while Story said he appreciated his teammates' support.
"It was not intentional," Valdez said. "It was not on purpose. It might look like that, but it wasn't. I was trying to throw strikes after the two consecutive home runs. I was trying to go back in the zone, and that pitch came out of my hand. It wasn't on purpose at all."
