headtopics
During Friday's contest at Dodger Stadium, a tense moment unfolded in the third inning when Dodgers reliever Will Klein, who has been grappling with control issues, sent two elevated 95 mph fastballs in the direction of Red Sox backstop Willson Contreras. The first pitch sailed high and inside, buzzing past Contreras' head, while the second connected squarely with the back of his helmet, drawing gasps from the crowd at Chavez Ravine.
Contreras, appearing dazed, bent over at home plate before eventually taking his base. He remained in the game initially, jogging down to first base, but was replaced at first base in the bottom half of the inning, likely heading to the clubhouse for further assessment. The veteran catcher received a warm ovation from the stands as he reached first base.
Klein, who was a key contributor to the Dodgers' World Series run last season, showed visible remorse, slowly walking off the mound with a shake of his head. Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo also offered an apologetic tap to Contreras as he made his way up the baseline.
Key Analysis
That pitch marked the end of Klein's outing, as he was pulled after allowing three runs over 1 1/3 innings in what was a planned bullpen game for Los Angeles. The right-hander has now surrendered runs in six consecutive appearances and has issued multiple free passes in four of his last five outings. His season ERA has ballooned from 1.78 on June 2 to 3.89 following Friday's performance, underscoring the ongoing command struggles that have plagued him throughout his career.
Originally reported by headtopics.