Victor Martinez: 'I Got No Respect For No One On That Team' [AUDIO]
By: Mike Sullivan
@MikeSullivan
Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez isn't happy with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Martinez was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning on Tuesday night. Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole struck him on the backside with a 95-mph fastball on the first pitch of his at-bat. Victor then stared down Cole before walking slowly to first base.
Martinez thinks Cole's pitch was in retaliation for when Justin Verlander hit Pirates outfielder Starling Marte with a pitch in the top of the fourth inning.
Then once again, in the top of the 5th inning, Verlander hit first baseman Pedro Alvarez with his first pitch. Both benches were warned by home plate umpire Chris Segal at that time.
Here's what Victor Martinez told 97.1 The Ticket's Jeff Riger after the game:
"I got no respect for no one on that team, including (Gerrit) Cole and their coaching staff because if they think Verlander hit (Starling) Marte with a 1-2 count, he was battling that at bat, and Verlander ended up hitting him. If they're really thinking that he would do that on purpose, they're playing the wrong sport."
When Verlander was asked postgame if he hit Alvarez on purpose, he replied, "No, that one got away from me."
The Pirates defeated the Tigers by a score of 5-4 in 14 innings last night. The two teams will square off again Wednesday night at 7:08.
