In case you missed it over the long weekend, Chris Martin and the Red Sox embarrassed themselves on Sunday.
But maybe it’s just a sign of the times.
Oh, the Red Sox won the game, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers by a 2-1 score to avoid a three-game series sweep at Fenway Park. But the benches cleared in the middle of the seventh inning after Martin jawed at Milwaukee Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry because he frowned upon the brewers putting down a pair of bunts to start the inning.
Think about that: at a time when baseball is trying to re-introduce creativity and athleticism, Martin seemed insulted at the Brewers’ attempt to score and win what was then a 1-1. And that doesn’t even begin to introduce the idea that Cora recently emphasized the Red Sox’ need to avoid strikeouts and to put the ball in play.
Like we said, Chris Martin and the Red Sox embarrassed themselves.
“I probably said some things under my breath that were directed towards that inning,” Martin told reporters. “I’ll let y’all determine what them things were. Heat of the moment. They bunted twice … I didn’t like it. I know it’s part of the game but it is what it is. I let them know. …I feel like, in this league, swing the bat. That’s it.”
Got that, Brewers fans? Chris Martin is now the judge and jury is to how baseball should be played.
Interestingly, the Red Sox broke the 1-1 an inning later (the eighth) when No. 9 hitter Ceddanne Rafaela led off with a double into the left field corner and Jarren Duran singled to left center. The hits came on consecutive pitches and highlighted the speed at the bottom and top of the Red Sox lineup.
Thought the Red Sox did not bunt, the rally nonetheless featured manager Alex Cora’s philosophy of putting the ball in play, a belief that flies in the face of the game’s more modern, analytical approach of launching the ball into the seats at every turn in the name of greater “efficiency.”
The Brewers seventh inning went like this:
With Martin having just entered the game, No. 9 hitter Blake Perkins executed a bunt single to the third base side of the mound on the Martin’s first pitch. Leadoff man Brice Turang then dropped a bunt to the first base side to move Perkins into scoring position. With one out and the go-ahead run on second, Martin then retired both William Contreras and Christian Yelich on grounders to first baseman Dominic Smith that required Martin to cover first base. Martin threw just six pitches in the inning, but the combination of bunts and grounders to the right side had him constantly bouncing off the mound to field his position.
Apparently, the entire sequence irked Martin, who seemed irritated that the Brewers would employ tactics that he might deem to be bush league.
Curiously, Cora did not comment on whether he supported Martin’s reasons for initiating the altercation – which certainly suggests that he did not support them. You can here the manager’s response and see the incident unfold below:
