Buescher confronts Reddick after Darlington race
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Chris Buescher let his frustrations out over a second close call that cost him a NASCAR victory for a second straight week.
Buescher had lost out by 0.001 of a second at Kansas to Kyle Larson a week ago in what was the closest ending in NASCAR history. This time, Buescher lost his chance at the Goodyear 400 when Tyler Reddick tried to pass for the lead.
Reddick’s car slid up into Buescher, knocking him against the wall and ruining both their chances for a Darlington victory.
Buescher angrily confronted Reddick when both were out of their cars. Buescher shoved him and shouted that he should not have tried that move.
“I tried to back out,” Reddick said. “The last thing I wanted to do was wreck your car. I’m sorry.”
Buescher pointed to the NASCAR playoff decal on his car for those, like Reddick, who’ve qualified for the postseason.
“That doesn’t work for me,” Buescher said. “We don’t have that sticker on my door right now. I need you to be better. We’ve raced each other for so long just fine.”
Buescher had said how agonizing his loss to Kyle Larson at Kansas last week was, replaying it and coming up with several things he might have done differently given another chance. At Darlington, Buescher knew who to blame.
“That’s two weeks in a row we had a shot to win races,” Buescher said. “One, I’m going to relive in my head forever at what I would’ve done different [at Kansas]. The other, I need someone else to be more mature about it.”
Reddick continued apologizing in his post-race comments.
He said his attempted pass was aggressive and he tried to check up so he would not slide into Buescher.
“It’s tough to walk away knowing that I used someone up, took their chance away from winning the race that’s racing me really cleanly,” Reddick said. “I have to work on that and try and make some better decisions.”
MILWAUKEE — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand, a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list.
The three-time All-Star went on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and returned to Houston for an MRI that revealed the muscle strain.
“We look at it as good news,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before their Wednesday afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Espada expressed hope that Alvarez wouldn’t have to stay on the injured list longer than the required 10 days. He also said the hand issue may have played a role in Alvarez’s slow start.
Alvarez, 27, is hitting .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBI in 29 games this season. He batted .308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBI in 147 games last year while ranking ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player balloting.
He has posted an OPS of at least .959 and has finished 13th or higher in the MVP voting each of the last three seasons.
“Once he heals, once he gets back, I think we’ll see a more aggressive at bat and be not as cautious,” Espada said. “I think it had something to do with it, yes.”
His potential return could go a long way toward boosting an Astros lineup that hasn’t been as productive as usual this season. The Astros entered Wednesday’s action ranked 21st in the majors in runs (136) and 23rd in OPS (.676). Houston has ranked 11th or better in both those categories each of the last four seasons.
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