Nationals Pitcher Apologizes for Remark to Red Sox Player

A Nationals pitcher apologized Wednesday for shouting "sit down, boy" at a Red Sox first baseman during a benches-clearing incident the previous night. "I'm extremely torn up about the way that things were perceived," the pitcher said. " The pitcher shouted the phrase after striking out the first baseman looking with a full-count pitch in the fourth inning of an 8-1 Nationals victory.

" The pitcher said he understands the history of the word and that it was not his intention. "There's a history behind that word, and that's just something that as a competitor... you don't understand it," he said. The pitcher added that he learned of the public reaction only after returning to his hotel room and checking social media.

The first baseman yelled back at the pitcher while returning to the dugout. After a brief exchange, the first baseman charged the mound but was stopped before reaching the pitcher. The first baseman attempted to throw his helmet toward the pitcher. The incident ended with ejections of the first baseman, Boston's interim manager, a Red Sox outfielder, and a Nationals pitcher.

The pitcher said he has not yet contacted the first baseman but hopes his explanation is understood.