Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez suspended six games for hitting Trevor Story

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/valdez-framber/bmDRXrqq/"]Valdez[/a] triggered a bench-clearing skirmish and was ejected on Tuesday after plunking Story with a 94 mph fastball in the fourth inning of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-tigers-futures/lzFOjTsB/"]Tigers[/a]' 10-3 drubbing by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-red-sox/zaXTinF3/"]Boston[/a].[/p][embed guid="4a83aa73-3d06-4b5d-9fb4-3b09fc862e5b" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2051813865009156263?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]MLB senior vice-president of on-field operations Michael Hill announced Valdez's punishment in a brief statement.[/p][p]Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was given a one-game suspension and also fined for Valdez's actions.[/p][p]Speaking after the game on Tuesday, Dominican left-hander Valdez, who had just given up back-to-back home runs before the incident, denied hitting Story on purpose.[/p][p][b]"It was not on purpose,"[/b] Valdez told US media through an interpreter.[/p][p][b]"It might've looked like that, but it wasn't. I was trying to throw a strike after two consecutive home runs, and the pitch just came out of my hand."[/b][/p][p]However, Valdez received scant backing from his own manager, Hinch, who admitted the incident had left a sour taste.[/p][p][b]"We play a really good brand of baseball here,"[/b] Hinch said.[b] "That doesn't feel like it. That's not judging intent. I have no idea.[/b][/p][p][b]"But when you go out on the field and end up in those confrontations, you usually feel like you're in your right.[/b][/p][p][b]"It didn't feel good being out there."[/b][/p][p]The Tigers, who have reached the playoffs for the past two seasons under Hinch, are leading the American League Central division despite making a lackluster 18-19 start to the season.[/p][embed guid="c712db44-7368-456e-bccd-27415c8fa0b2" url="https://x.com/971theticketxyt/status/2052106385442128035?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]