Red Sox announcer urges pitcher to target Yankees' Wells and confront Chisholm
During a lopsided Yankees win, Red Sox radio broadcaster Will Flemming suggested pitcher Jovani Morán intentionally hit catcher Austin Wells and fight second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. after Chisholm stole two bases with a six-run lead. Flemming also called Chisholm a "bush league player" who "plays the game the wrong way," while color analyst Will Middlebrooks described the steals as "selfish." The comments came in the eighth inning of New York's 16-1 victory, the teams' final regular-season meeting.
The incident unfolded during the eighth inning of a game that carried significant playoff implications, with the Yankees holding a four-game lead over Boston in the AL East standings. Chisholm's two stolen bases came after Morán had walked him, and the Red Sox broadcast team interpreted the moves as a violation of baseball's unwritten rules regarding running up a score. The Yankees ultimately secured a 7-6 edge in the season series, their final meeting of the regular season.
Flemming's on-air remarks escalated from frustration to explicit suggestions of physical retaliation, including throwing at Wells and confronting Chisholm. The broadcast team's reaction reflected a broader tension between the clubs, who have been competing for postseason positioning. Neither the Red Sox organization nor Audacy, WEEI's parent company, had responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
This incident may reignite ongoing debates about baseball's unwritten rules and the line between aggressive play and poor sportsmanship. Fans and players could find themselves divided over whether Chisholm's base-stealing was justified or disrespectful, while broadcasters' calls for intentional hitting may raise questions about the influence of commentary on player conduct. The controversy could also intensify the rivalry between these historic franchises, potentially affecting how future matchups are approached by both teams and their respective fan bases.