Red Sox radio broadcaster Will Flemming says team should hit Austin Wells, calls Jazz Chisholm a 'bush-league player' in meltdown

· Yahoo Sports

It was a highly-productive weekend for the New York Yankees, who took three out of four games from the rival Boston Red Sox. Of those wins, Sunday’s 16-1 victory proved to be the most embarrassing for Boston … and not just on the field.

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During the contest, Red Sox radio announcer Will Flemming openly advocated for the team to hit Yankees catcher Austin Wells with a pitch and referred to Jazz Chisholm as a “bush-league player” after Chisholm stole two bases with the Yankees up six runs.

Flemming’s disgust started after Chisholm stole second and third with the Yankees up 7-1 in the bottom of the eighth. Chisholm stole the bases on consecutive pitches, leading Flemming to suggest the Red Sox throw at Wells, who was at the plate.

Flemming also said “[Chisholm] is a bush-league player, that the pitcher “should fight” Chisholm and that Chisholm “plays the game the wrong way.”

Former Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks — who was on the broadcast with Flemming — gave his thoughts on the matter, saying the Red Sox weren’t holding Chisholm on the base, which was a “white flag,” meaning the team had given up on the game. Middlebrooks later called Chisholm’s steals a “selfish play.”

The Yankees opened things up in a major way after Chisholm’s steals. Wells hit a two-run shot to right field, scoring Chisholm from third. Paul Goldschmidt followed that up with a home run of his own.

The team later added six more runs in the frame, as Wells hit a second home run during the inning.

Flemming wasn’t the only Red Sox broadcaster to show ire about Chisholm’s steals. Lou Merloni, who provides color commentary on NESN, said he had “a problem with [Chisholm stealing.]” Merloni echoed Middlebrooks’ comments, saying it was bad form for Chisholm to steal in that situation.

Merloni didn’t go nearly as far as Flemming, though did add in a “Red Sox didn’t do much about [Chisholm’s steals]. Wells was still at the plate.” That’s not the same as advocating for the team to hit Wells, but Merloni at least seemed to think the team could have considered it in that instance.

Given the score of Sunday’s game — and the Red Sox’s performance the entire series — Flemming and Merloni’s comments come off as sour grapes after the Yankees got the best of their biggest rivals.

Following those wins, the Yankees hold a four-game lead over the Red Sox in the American League East. Both teams, however, are firmly in the wild-card hunt.

That could set up a future playoff series … one in which the Red Sox will have to determine how important it is to send a message if their season is on the line.

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