Chad Tracy defends Willson Contreras after boos from Red Sox fans

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was booed by the crowd at Fenway Park on Saturday.

Contreras, making his return to the lineup after missing the previous two games with an illness, heard rare jeers from the home crowd for failing to run out a ground ball to third base — hearing it all the way from the batter’s box to the dugout tunnel.

Contreras was removed from his previous appearance with said illness, and was said to still be feeling the effects over the weekend.

“I know how that looks but I’m also aware more than others that he’s a little beat up and told us before the game, ‘I don’t have everything today.’ So I’m fine,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said, as seen on NESN. “Especially with a guy that plays the game as hard as he does and how hard he turns around first base all the time, I’m fine with it.”

Contreras, who struck out twice and had one single on the afternoon, declined to speak with the media after the game.

The Red Sox will likely move on from the incident without any further discussion, though it was an interesting example of how expectations have begun to rise amid the club’s incredible 27-5 streak since July 1.