Boston Red Sox player Willson Contreras experienced a rollercoaster of emotions Monday night, hitting a significant home run and subsequently being ejected from the game in a controversial call.
During the first inning of the Red Sox's 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals, Contreras launched a 421-foot, three-run homer. As he rounded the bases, he shouted "Venezuela" toward the dugout, a tribute to his home country which was recently struck by earthquakes. In the dugout, Contreras became visibly emotional, embracing teammates and coaches.
The emotional high turned contentious in the second inning when Contreras struck out on a check swing. Umpire Nic Lentz ruled that Contreras had swung, a decision Contreras appeared to question by silently tapping the top of his helmet as he returned to the dugout. Lentz immediately ejected Contreras following the gesture. Interim Manager Chad Tracy argued the call but could not overturn the decision.
Analysts and broadcasters criticized the ejection, with NESN analyst Will Middlebrooks calling it an "absolute joke" and "embarrassing to the game," questioning the severity of the penalty for the player's reaction.
Contreras had spoken earlier about the difficulty of performing his job while aware of the ongoing devastation in Venezuela. "It is really sad to live through this," he said. "We are professionals. We have to show up and work. But it is really tough when you know what is going on in Venezuela ... trying to perform, and at the same time trying to seek ways to help."