The Houston Astros denied a Detroit Free Press reporter access to Justin Verlander after Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss to the Tigers.
An Astros spokesman told the newspaper that writer Anthony Fenech had been denied access at the pitcher’s request.
Verlander refused to speak to the media with Fenech there, explaining Thursday on his Twitter feed that it was due to “unethical behavior in the past.”
“I reached out to the @freep multiple times before the game to notify them why and to give them an opportunity to have someone else there. Ironically they didn’t answer,” Verlander wrote.
Free Press editor Peter Bhatia said the newspaper will file a protest with the Astros and Major League Baseball.
“Blocking a working reporter from doing his job is unprofessional, disappointing and intolerable,” Bhatia said.
Fenech has been the Tigers’ beat writer for the Free Press since 2015.
Verlander, who pitched for Detroit from 2005 to 2017, took the loss on Wednesday after allowing two runs on two hits with 11 strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
