Willson Contreras' Powerful Night Derailed By 'Surprising' Ejection

The always animated Contreras was especially emotional when he returned to the dugout, breaking down in tears amid the ongoing tragedy in his home country. Consoled by teammates and coaches, he returned to his post at first base still visibly shaken.

In his next at-bat, Contreras was punched out on a check swing after an unsuccessful appeal to the first base umpire. Shaking his head on the walk back to the dugout but seemingly avoiding eye contact with the umpire, Contreras tapped his helmet as if to say he would like to challenge the call.

This gesture, of course made facetiously considering a check swing cannot be challenged, was enough for umpire Nic Lentz to throw him out of the game.

A confused Chad Tracy and eventually Contreras emerged from the dugout to question the decision, but there was little discussion to be had and his night was over.

After the game, the veteran slugger spoke about the "surprising" ejection, explaining his confusion about the controversial decision.

"Kind of surprising... Nick and I have a really good relationship," Contreras. "We had a really good talk before the game. He also mentioned Venezuela which is good for him to know about it."

Contreras said his head tap gesture was made in response to a fan who was encouraging him, adding that he heard from Marcelo Mayer that he had been tossed after seeing Tracy run out to confront Lentz. According to Lentz, who spoke with media after the game, a player mockingly challenging a play results in automatic ejection.

Tracy explained that he initially did not know who was thrown out either, coming to the defense of his player in his postgame presser saying that he is "going through a lot."

Contreras is one of five Venezuelan-born players in the Red Sox clubhouse along with Wilyer Abreu, Ranger Suárez, Carlos Narváez, and Andruw Monasterio. Abreu, Suárez, and Contreras each spoke after the game about just how difficult it has been to play after the two deadly earthquakes that hit their home country last week.

"It's not easy to hide," Contreras said. "It's not easy just to show up and play with everything that's going on in my country."

But like he has done all year, Contreras came through when his teammates needed him on Monday night, sparking them both with his big swing and passionate displays. While it was cut short in this one, the veteran leader is already laser-focused on the next one, telling Tim Healey of The Boston Globe that "every homer from now on is going to be for the Red Sox and Venezuela.”