Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said Lance McCullers Jr. and his family were the subjects of death threats made on social media after the veteran right-hander was chased after allowing seven runs as part of a 10-run first inning for the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.
A team spokesperson said the Astros notified both the Houston Police Department and Major League Baseball security about the threats.
“I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,” McCullers told reporters in Houston.
“There have been many threats over the years aimed at me mostly … But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them … it’s tough.”
McCullers (0-1) was making just his second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series after battling a series of right arm issues.
He struggled with his command from the start Saturday. He walked leadoff hitter TJ Friedl before plunking Matt McLain on the backside. Elly De La Cruz then smacked an opposite-field, three-run homer to left to make it 3-0.
McCullers walked two more batters with one out before Tyler Stephenson hit an RBI single. Will Benson followed with an RBI double to make it 5-0 and chase McCullers.
He was replaced by Logan VanWey but the Reds kept piling on, sending 15 batters to the plate before Santiago Espinal finally struck out to end the inning.
It was Cincinnati’s most runs in a first inning since August 1989, when they scored 14, also against the Astros.
The Reds went on to win Saturday’s game, 13-9, as Houston lost for the fourth time in the last six games.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
