NEW YORK — A mini-controversy continues to percolate before Saturday’s game here, as the Mets believe Reds pitcher Sean Marshall intentionally hit New York star David Wright with a pitch in the eighth inning Friday night. Reds manager Dusty Baker denied that after Friday’s game.The Mets think Marshall hit Wright in retaliation for Reds star Joey Votto being hit by a pitch from Dillon Gee in the third inning. But, the Mets also indicated the Reds handled it in a professional, eye-for-eye manner.
“That’s the way you play the game,” Wright told New York writers after Friday’s 7-3 Reds win. “I know we didn’t hit Joey on purpose, but you take care of your guys. We would have done the same thing.”
Baker said there was no malicious intent on either side.
“I mean, you’re throwing a projectile 90-plus miles an hour,” Baker said of Gee. “Evidently they were trying to throw (Votto) inside after he hit that ball to left center field (first-inning double), a pitch low and away. No, we didn’t think there was any intent. Every time somebody gets hit now, people think there’s intent. In the umpire’s opinion, if there had been, then he would have issued a warning.”
There were no apparent umpire warnings during Friday’s game.
Mets manager Terry Collins, in a story that appeared in the New York Post, referenced the Reds-Indians incidents from earlier in the week. Reds starter Mat Latos buzzed Indians starter Derek Lowe, and Lowe hit Brandon Phillips. Baker and Lowe also exchanged unpleasantries through the media.
“Well, I watched the same thing you did the other day,” Collins said. “When their guy got hit, they answered, so I’m not surprised.”
Marshall’s pitch that hit Wright appeared to barely touch the batter’s shirt, around the midsection.
“You can perceive anything you want to,” Baker said. “That guy’s a heck of a player and he’s 4-for-6 off Marshall, so evidently nothing else has worked. He’s trying to come inside with a fastball, he’s 4-for-6 off Marshall and his main pitch is a breaking ball, and he’s probably hitting breaking balls.
“
eople can perceive it any way they want to. In modern baseball you’ve always got perception.”
