The Boston Red Sox are refuting a report by WHDH that team pitchers drank beer in the dugout during games this season.
WHDH sports director Joe Amorosino first reported on the 5 p.m. newscast yesterday that pitchers Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and John Lackey drank beer in the dugout on nights they were not pitching, citing anonymous Red Sox sources. Boston was shut out of the playoffs this season after losing a nine-game lead in the American League Wild Card race.
Through a Red Sox spokeswoman, Lester told ESPN the WHDH report “completely false.” By late last evening, all three pitchers, former Red Sox manager Terry Francona and team president and CEO Larry Lucchino had all released statements denying the WHDH report.
WHDH amended the report on their website to include the statements, but did not take it down. The station has continued to stand by their reporting, including the story on today’s noon newscast along with the team’s denials.