Tigers’ Framber Valdez Ejected as Benches Clear After Hit-By-Pitch

Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez was ejected from his start against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, May 5, without recording an out in the fourth inning. The ejection came after Valdez hit Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story with a 94.4 mph fastball, immediately after giving up back-to-back home runs.

The Red Sox scored 10 runs off Valdez, and the tension escalated when he drilled Story with a pitch that the shortstop absorbed with his back. The incident led to both teams’ benches and bullpens emptying onto the field at Comerica Park, with players and coaches from both sides pouring onto the field.

Fortunately, the situation did not escalate into a brawl, but the incident was intense enough to warrant the ejection of Valdez by third-base umpire Dan Iassogna, who served as the crew chief for the game. The ejection marked a dramatic turn of events in the game, which saw the Red Sox dominate the Tigers early on.

The Tigers had made some roster moves earlier in the day, with infielder Zach McKinstry returning from the injured list and Zack Short being cut from the team. However, the focus quickly shifted to the on-field drama when Valdez hit Story with the pitch.

Story stared down Valdez after being hit, which led to the benches clearing. The incident is under further review, and this story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold for the latest updates on this developing story.

Key Takeaways:

• Framber Valdez was ejected from the game without recording an out in the fourth inning.
• Valdez hit Trevor Story with a 94.4 mph fastball after giving up back-to-back home runs.
• The Red Sox scored 10 runs off Valdez before the ejection.
• The incident led to both teams’ benches and bullpens emptying onto the field, but no brawl occurred.

Stay Tuned for Updates:

This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Follow Evan Petzold on Twitter @EvanPetzold for the latest updates on the Detroit Tigers and the MLB.