Cardinals' Yadier Molina, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo make amends before game
Cardinals' Yadier Molina, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo make amends before game
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) and St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) exchange words as umpire Tim Timmons (95) attempts to separate them during the second inning of an April game at Busch Stadium.(Photo: Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports)
PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, remorseful for his comments about St. Louis Cardinals All-Star catcher Yadier Molina in April, told reporters that he planned to apologize, and did just that Monday at the batting cage before their game.
Lovullo approached Molina during batting practice, apologized, bumped fists, and departed with Lovullo patting Molina on the shoulder.
All seemingly is forgiven.
The incident that prompted the apology occurred in St. Louis in April when Lovullo was arguing with home-plate umpire Tim Timmons. Lovullo told Timmons that he was being fooled by Molina’s framing skills, turning balls into strikes, and uttered a profanity that Molina thought was directed towards him. Molina charged Lovullo, and they were each suspended a game.
“If you’re going to call (that) to a guy,’’ Molina said after the game, “you’ve got to be ready to fight. That’s unprofessional. Hopefully we can meet face-to-face and see if he’s got some (guts) and can tell me right to my face.”
Lovullo told reporters: "I wasn’t saying it to him. I didn’t say anything to him. I was just referencing him in the wrong way, and I understood why he got frustrated.”
Three months later, Lovullo gave his apology, face to face.
And if there was any payback, Molina got his own revenge in the first inning with a two-run single, then with a homer in the sixth inning.
This time, Lovullo remained silent.
“Everything is in the past,” Molina said postgame. “I have a bunch of respect for him and the organization, so everything is good.”
Contributing: Associated Press
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