Chris Martin calls out Brewers after his on-field confrontation

May 16, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Martin (55) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Martin revealed what he said to rile up the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Martin admitted he was not happy with the Brewers laying down multiple bunts against him during Sunday’s game. The Red Sox reliever suggested he found the tactic disrespectful, and he took a shot at Milwaukee in the process.

Chris Martin is not a fan of bunting.

"Maybe they don't think they can get a hit or whatever"

Says him and Quintin Berry don't have beef. They played together. Just competition. pic.twitter.com/6rJiNvST5U

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) May 26, 2024

“I probably said some things under my breath that was kind of directed toward that inning,” Martin said. “I’ll let y’all determine what those things were. Heat of the moment, they bunted twice, see they bunted at the end of the game. I didn’t like it. I know it’s part of the game, but it is what it is. I let them know.

“Honestly, it’s probably a compliment. Maybe they don’t think they can get a hit or whatever. They put a good swing on a pitch — I don’t know. I feel like in this league, swing the bat.”

Whatever Martin said fired up Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry and prompted the benches to clear, though nothing really came of it.

The Brewers opened the seventh against Martin with a bunt single from Blake Perkins, then bunted Perkins over to second base. As Martin alluded to, Perkins tried to bunt for another hit in the ninth, this time with two outs and nobody on, and was unsuccessful.

Bunts may be annoying and not necessarily the best strategy, but even the best hitters can try to catch the defense by surprise sometimes. Martin is probably annoyed that one worked against him, but the other two essentially amounted to free outs. The Red Sox should probably just keep their mouths shut and take those.