Red Sox
Chapman and Flores exchanged words for a few seconds at the end of Friday’s game, causing the benches to clear.
There was some tension in Friday’s Red Sox-Giants game, but it didn’t involve Rafael Devers in his first game against his former team.
After the Red Sox recorded the final out in their 7-5 win, closer Aroldis Chapman and Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores exchanged words, causing the benches to clear. It appeared that Chapman had said something to Flores as the Giants’ hitter ran down the first base line after popping out to Red Sox’ first baseman Abraham Toro for the game’s final out.
The drama de-escalated relatively quickly, though. Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey and catcher Connor Wong were able to escort Chapman away, while Flores made his way back to the Giants’ dugout.
Flores said he was trying to figure out what Chapman said to him, leading to the confrontation.
“I don’t know. He said something,” Flores told reporters, via MassLive’s Sean McAdam. “I wanted to know what he said. Still don’t know … I tried to ask him if he said something. I asked what was going on.”
Before Chapman got Flores to fly out and end the game, the Red Sox’ closer was called for a pitch clock violation earlier in the at-bat. Chapman didn’t engage with Flores before a pitch in time, causing home plate umpire Doug Eddings to call a ball and make it a 2-2 count.
Flores wondered if Chapman was upset over the pitch clock violation.
“I guess,” Flores said when asked if he thought that was the case. “I don’t know.”
Over the years, Chapman has had a knack for staring down opposing hitters after recording the final out of the game. But based on Flores’s comments, it doesn’t appear that was the issue that led to the brief confrontation in Friday’s game.
Regardless of what happened after Flores’s at-bat, Chapman got the job done again for the Red Sox. He recorded his 14th save of the season in 15 tries, shutting down the Giants’ lineup in order.
Chapman’s 1-2-3 inning included a showdown against Devers. The two lefties were engaged in a five-pitch duel that ended with Chapman getting Devers to strike out swinging on a 101 mph fastball.
That strikeout gave Chapman 45 on the season, doing so in just 32 innings pitched. He also has a 1.41 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP as the 37-year-old is in the midst of a bit of a surprise resurgence.
Those stats also put Chapman among the best closers in baseball. His strikeouts per nine innings pitched (12.7) is the fourth-best mark among the 30 relievers who lead their respective teams in saves this season. Meanwhile, Chapman’s ERA is the second-best mark and his WHIP is the best mark among that same group of 30 relievers.
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