ANAHEIM -- The Red Sox opened their weekend series against the Angels on Friday with first baseman Willson Contreras and outfielder Nate Eaton in the lineup while appealing their recent suspensions.
Both players, along with Nationals pitchers Cade Cavalli and Miles Mikolas, received fines and multi-game suspensions following a heated benches-clearing incident in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game at Fenway Park. Cavalli and Contreras received matching seven-game suspensions, while Mikolas was handed five games and Eaton received three.
Because both Red Sox players chose to appeal, their suspensions are on hold, allowing them to remain active at Angel Stadium until the process is finalized. Contreras went 2-for-4 with a double in Boston's 5-2 win; Eaton went 0-for-5.
When approached before Friday's series opener, Contreras declined to dive into the specifics of the disciplinary action.
“I’m looking forward to playing with my guys,” Contreras said. “We’re here, starting a new series with the Angels. We are looking to win for sure. ... It’s not my first time going through the process. I’m not proud of it, but I can’t change the past.”
Contreras noted that he was explicitly advised by the Players Association not to discuss the ongoing appeal further.
Interim manager Chad Tracy echoed that approach, emphasizing a desire to block out the distraction of potential roster disruption over the holiday weekend.
"They're appealing and that's it," Tracy said. "Now it's just let that process play out and we'll see what comes down to play whenever it comes down to play. ... I try really hard not to think about what's going to happen three or four days from now. Like, let's take care of today."
While Tracy admitted that losing Contreras' bat -- one of the premier focal points of the Boston offense -- for any stretch will hurt, he remained matter-of-fact about the road ahead.
"In [these] two months, we've lost a lot of players," Tracy said. " It's baseball and things happen and the game is going to go on. ... Just move on and play the next game. That's all you can do."