New Red Sox Manager Calls Out 'Weak' Tigers For Hitting Trevor Story

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The Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers into submission on Tuesday night. They scored 10 runs on starting pitcher Framber Valdez in just three innings. 

Valdez finally had enough after back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning from Wilson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu, so he put a 94-mile-an-hour fastball into Trevor Story's back.

His intentions were clear when he hit the Red Sox veteran on the first pitch of the at-bat, and his action led to Boston's entire dugout and bullpen emptying to come to the defense of Story.

The umpires picked up on it as well, as Valdez was mercifully removed from the game with an ERA of 21.00 on the day. 

New Red Sox manager Chad Tracy did not mince words after the game when discussing Valdez.

"Yes, I do think so," Tracy said when asked if the HBP was intentional. "I thought it was weak and I thought everybody saw it. Their side, our side, everybody saw it. Yeah, it was weak."

Tracy went on to say that he loved the way his team responded, rushing out of the dugout to confront the pitcher.

"They didn't hesitate; they were out there. Nothing escalated," Tracy said. "They weren't happy about it, obviously. But they were out there, which is important."

Chad Tracy calls Framber Valdez hitting Trevor Story "weak." pic.twitter.com/0RWj7gduhx— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) May 6, 2026

Beating a team so soundly that their starting pitcher pegs one of the team's leaders out of frustration is the kind of event that can inject some swagger into a clubhouse. I hope the Red Sox can ride this wave into Wednesday night's series finale and leave Detroit with a sweep. 

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