Red Sox’s Contreras warns Brewers after HBP: ‘I’m going to take one of them out’

After spending the first 10 seasons of his career as a Milwaukee opponent in the NL Central, Contreras and the Brewers have had plenty of chances to butt heads.

But even after landing with the Red Sox in an off-season trade, it didn’t take long for the 33-year-old to renew acquaintances on Monday.

In the third inning of what finished as an 8-6 Brewers win, Contreras was hit on the arm by a sinker from Brandon Woodruff. He immediately shouted out towards the mound, showing his displeasure with the Milwaukee starter.

The pitch marked the 24th time in his career that Contreras has been hit by a Brewers pitcher and the sixth time by Woodruff.

Contreras continued to take out his frustration on the Brewers when the very next batter grounded out to second, with the Red Sox first baseman taking an aggressive slide in second base, appearing to kick up his legs at shortstop David Hamilton.

While cooler heads prevailed through the rest of the game, where Contreras went 3-for-3 with a double and a homer, the three-time all-star had a message for Milwaukee after the game.

“That is the 24th time they’ve hit me in my career. That is the sixth time (Woodruff has) hit me,” he told reporters post-game. “And they always say, ‘I’m not trying to hit you.’ That gets old.

“So, the next time they hit me, I’m going to take one of them out.”

On the Brewers’ side, Christian Yelich — who has been in Milwaukee since 2018 — wasn’t surprised to see tempers flare once again.

“We’ve seen that skit for the last 10 years. It’s nothing new,” he said. “It’s not surprising.”

The two sides will be back at it on Tuesday from Fenway Park, where all eyes will surely be locked on Contreras’s at-bats.