The Detroit Tigers are in a slugfest for control of the AL Central with the Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals. Tuesday night was an opportunity to gain sole possession of the top spot in the division, but Detroit lost 10-3 to the Boston Red Sox.
A loss on its own is reason enough to be frustrated, but things came to a head when pitcher Framber Valdez struck Boston Red Sox batter Trevor Story with an errant pitch in the fourth inning after relinquishing back-to-back home runs, leading to a benches-clearing incident.
After giving up back-to-back home runs, Framber Valdez hit Trevor Story, and the benches cleared 👀
Valdez has been ejectedpic.twitter.com/HPtJbMcny5
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) May 5, 2026
Valdez even drew the frustration of his manager, AJ Hinch, who spoke on the situation after the game.
“We play a really good brand of baseball here. That didn’t feel like it,” Hinch said, according to ESPN. “It’s not judging intent; I have no idea. But I know when you go out on the field, and you end up sort of in those confrontations, you usually feel like you’re in your right. And it didn’t feel good being out there.”
“So I understand their frustrations. I understand the moment, and it was a low moment of a frustrating night.”
The Tigers are tied with Cleveland for first place in the Central, but is just 4-6 over its last 10 games. Detroit will look to avoid a sweep at the Red Sox’s hands on Wednesday evening.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.