Framber Valdez calls ejection ‘unfair’ as Red Sox broadcast calls out ‘weak’ Tigers ace

Things took a dramatic turn in the Boston Red Sox’s game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

With the Tigers down 8-2 in the top of the fourth inning, starting pitcher Framber Valdez surrendered back-to-back home runs to Wilson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu in the space of three pitches.

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The lefty, who signed a five-year contract with Detroit in the offseason, wasted no time with his next hitter, Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story.

Valdez, primarily a sinker-ball pitcher, had not thrown a four-seam fastball in 2026, but threw one to Story at 94 mph, which hit him right between the numbers.

Home plate umpire Adam Beck immediately got in front of a clearly-insenced Story, but that didn’t stop the rest of the Red Sox bench from leaving the dugout and making their way onto the field.

Tigers players then poured onto the field themselves, but calmer heads prevailed.

The Red Sox broadcast were irritated Valdez’ actions, and delivered a brutal assessment of the situation.

“You can’t get them out so you throw at them, what a joke…” they said.

“The one guy who caused it is hiding in the back… let’s just hope he doesn’t cross up his catcher now because he is mad.”

The incident being referred to happened in September 2025, when the lefty was pitching for the Houston Astros.

During a game between the Astros and the Yankees, Valdez had just given up a grand slam to Trent Grisham, but his catcher, Cesar Salazar, urged him to step off the mound just before.

Two pitches after the home run, a clearly frustrated Valdez struck Salazar in the chest protector with a sinker, when his catcher called for a curveball.

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Valdez denied that the cross-up was intentional, just like he did after Tuesday’s plunking of Trevor Story.

“I wanted to throw the fastball because I threw it in the bullpen today,” Valdez said through an interpreter, via The Athletic. 

“That pitch just stayed up and hit him by bad luck. It wasn’t intentional or anything. Anybody can have a pitch get away from them in that situation.”

“I (think) that it’s completely unfair, first of all, they should have given me a warning

“Getting ejected, I’m not making the decision. The umpires are doing their job. They’re doing their best. They made the decision of getting me ejected. 

“As you can see on the video, I was not even feisty. I was not even angry against them, neither the umpire, nor the team. But again, I considered that a very unfair situation that shouldn’t happen. They should have given me a warning.”

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It is not a good look for the southpaw who became Detroit’s ‘de facto ace’ this week.

Reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his throwing elbow this week.

Valdez’s first crack at headlining the rotation was one to forget. 

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