A personal shot was taken during a bench-clearing incident between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies, with Rockies pitcher Cal Quantrill mocking Boston catcher Reese McGuire's previous indecent exposure arrest.
Tempers flared between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, leading to a bench-clearing incident that featured a personal shot from Rockies pitcher Cal Quantrill.
The incident occurred in the top of the fourth inning, after McGuire popped out to the catcher. Quantrill, sensing an easy out, let out a loud scream as he threw his pitch. McGuire, seemingly taken aback by the reaction, stared at Quantrill while running to first base.
Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies Benches Clear in Heated Exchange
The two players exchanged words before being separated, with Quantrill delivering a devastating blow by referencing McGuire's February 2020 arrest for indecent exposure.
"You j---ed off in a f---ing parking lot, you dumb f---," Quantrill shouted.
Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies Benches Clear in Heated Exchange
McGuire was indeed accused of that offense. Deputies responded to a report of a man sitting in an SUV in Dunedin, Florida, with his genitals exposed and his pants around his ankles.
Both benches emptied, but no punches were thrown. However, the incident seemed to fire up the Rockies, who scored five runs in the fourth and six more in the sixth to extend their lead to 19-3.
Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies Benches Clear in Heated Exchange
McGuire eventually pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and paid a $500 fine.
Wednesday's game marked the final meeting between the two teams this season. The Red Sox and Rockies split the first two contests of their three-game set, with the Rockies taking the rubber match.
Quantrill's taunting of McGuire's indecent exposure arrest drew widespread condemnation, with many criticizing the pitcher for his lack of sensitivity.
"Quantrill's comments were deeply offensive and unprofessional," said Anne Marie Smith, director of the National Center for Victims of Crime. "It's outrageous that he would use someone's past as a weapon to try to gain an advantage in a game."
McGuire, who has since apologized for his actions, expressed disappointment in Quantrill's behavior.
"I'm not proud of what I did," McGuire said. "But I don't think it's fair for Cal to use it against me like that. It was a low blow."
The bench-clearing incident and Quantrill's taunting have overshadowed the on-field action and cast a pall over the Red Sox-Rockies rivalry.
It remains to be seen whether Quantrill will face any disciplinary action from the league. However, the incident has raised questions about the limits of acceptable behavior on the baseball field.
The Rockies' recent offensive outburst suggests that the incident may have galvanized them, while the Red Sox appear to be demoralized. It will be interesting to see how the two teams perform in the remaining games of their respective seasons.
