BOSTON -- A day after New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira ripped into Red Sox reliever Vicente Padilla for his past history of intentionally throwing at hitters more than anyone else in baseball, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine defended his pitcher, who Teixeira said "doesn't have a lot of friends in the game."
"From what I've seen, he's been a terrific teammate," said Valentine on Saturday. "He's been a guy who's taken the ball every day that we've wanted him to. And other than yesterday, and I think one other time, he's been outstanding in leaving runners right where they were when he came into the game."