With heavy heart for Venezuela, Contreras' emotions on display after HR, ejection
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BOSTON -- Willson Contreras plays for the Red Sox. But he is playing for Venezuela, his native country that was ravaged by earthquakes last Wednesday.
When Contreras mashed a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning in Monday night’s 6-3 win against the Nationals at Fenway Park, he let out every kind of emotion he had.
Contreras flipped his bat high into the air as his Statcast-projected 421-foot blast off Nats righty Miles Mikolas soared over everything in left-center field.
The first baseman then slapped his helmet with both hands and screamed “Venezuela” to his teammates as he headed past the home dugout to first base. By the time he sat on the bench, Contreras started crying. It lasted for several minutes, and many of his teammates and coaches gave him soulful hugs.
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In the second inning, Contreras got emotional again, this time after he was ejected by first-base umpire Nic Lentz, who ruled that he didn’t check his swing on a strikeout.
Replays indicated Contreras did go through with his swing. Contreras tapped his helmet as he walked down the first-base line, which is what Lentz indicated was the cause for the ejection.
Hitters tap their helmets when making an ABS challenge. But swinging strikeouts, as this one was ruled, aren’t allowed to be challenged. Contreras seemed to be making a point to Lentz.
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It is clear that emotions are hard for Contreras to channel these days, given what is going on back home. Contreras said as much in a Friday press conference.
“It's really sad to live through this. It's really hard to separate or fake that we are good just because we have to work,” Contreras said. “I mean, we're professionals. We have to show up and work.
“But it's really tough when you know what's going on in Venezuela, you're here playing for your team, trying to win the game, trying to perform, and at the same time trying to seek ways to help. I wish I could be there, to be honest, to find people. That's where my heart is.”
Contreras is one of five Venezuelans on the Red Sox, a group that also includes Monday’s starting pitcher Ranger Suarez, right fielder Wilyer Abreu, catcher Carlos Narváez and utility infielder Andruw Monasterio.
Monasterio replaced Contreras at first base following his ejection.