D-backs’ Lovullo apologizes to Cardinals’ Molina for earlier altercation

Jul 2, 2018, 7:36 PM | Updated: Jul 3, 2018, 11:32 am

Suns reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo apologized to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina on Monday for an early-April altercation between the two that led to a one-game suspension for Lovullo.

More from #Dbacks Torey Lovullo/Yadier Molina summit. pic.twitter.com/aPU6QxxYiZ

— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) July 2, 2018

Lovullo was suspended after arguing balls and strikes with an umpire, which led to the altercation.

Molina took exception to Lovullo’s argument that included foul language, pointing at Molina and claiming the veteran catcher was turning balls into strikes. Molina moved toward Lovullo and the Arizona manager continued to make his argument, further upsetting Molina, who attempted to get past the umpire and confront the D-backs manager.

“He said a bad word to me and I reacted that way,” Molina said after the game, per the Associated Press. “He called me (it) twice. You can’t allow that.”

Lovullo said afterward that his poor word choice upset Molina and admitted he “probably took it too far.”

Before the game on Monday, Lovullo was seen having a minute-long conversation with Molina that ended in a fist bump between the two.

“Everything is in the past,” Molina said after the game. “I have a bunch of respect for him and the organization, so everything is good.”

After the game, Lovullo said the meeting went “good” between the two but would not divulge on the details of the discussion any further.

Lovullo said he had complimented Molina on his pitch-framing and that it didn’t have anything to do with why he was so upset.

“It had nothing to do with Yadi’s pitch-framing,” Lovullo said on April 10. “I just didn’t like the pitches that were called in this game, at that moment.”

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray pauses on the mound after giving up four runs against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Tyler O'Neill (41) celebrates his run scored against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Miles Mikolas, left, Matt Carpenter, second from right, and Greg Garcia, right, during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna (23) shouts as he gets called out on strikes by umpire Andy Fletcher, left, as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher John Ryan Murphy, middle, holds onto the ball during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna (23) jumps over the baseball as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher John Ryan Murphy, left, tries to get to the ball on an inside pitch during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina connects for a two-run single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Tommy Pham (28) and Matt Carpenter, left, celebrate their runs scored against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher John Ryan Murphy, right, leans over to tag out St. Louis Cardinals' Jedd Gyorko, left, as Gyorko tries to score a run during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jedd Gyorko, right, pauses at home plate after being tagged out trying to score a run as Yadier Molina (4) looks on during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb follows through on a run-scoring single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (18) bumps fists with catcher Yadier Molina, left, as the two walk off the field during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina (4) celebrates his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Yairo Munoz (34) during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina, right, celebrates his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Jack Flaherty (32) and Matt Carpenter, second from left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jedd Gyorko, left, celebrates his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Marcell Ozuna (23) during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Jedd Gyorko, right, throws to first base to get Arizona Diamondbacks' Robbie Ray out as Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, left, runs to cover third base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Carpenter (13) makes an off balance catch at first base to get Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb (22) out during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Bud Norris points to the sky after the final out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. The Cardinals defeated the Diamondbacks 6-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals' Tommy Pham (28) gets a high-five from Yairo Munoz (34) after the final out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. The Cardinals defeated the Diamondbacks 6-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Bud Norris, right, shakes hands with catcher Yadier Molina after the final out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. The Cardinals defeated the Diamondbacks 6-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock scores a run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 2, 2018, in Phoenix. The Cardinals defeated the Diamondbacks 6-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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