MLB, Red Sox respond to treatment of Jones at Fenway

BOSTON -- Major League Baseball and the Red Sox each responded on Tuesday to Orioles star center fielder Adam Jones experiencing an object being thrown at him by a Fenway Park spectator and being subjected to racial taunts during Baltimore's 5-2 win over the Red Sox.
"The racist words and actions directed at Adam Jones at Fenway Park last night are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated at any of our ballparks," Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "My office has been in contact with the Red Sox, and the club has made it clear that they will not tolerate this inexcusable behavior. Our 30 clubs will continue to work with fans and security to provide a family-friendly environment. Any individual who behaves in such offensive fashion will be immediately removed from the ballpark and subject to further action.

"The behavior of these few ignorant individuals does not reflect the millions of great baseball fans who attend our games."
• Justice: No place for what Jones faced
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy issued this statement:
"The Red Sox want to publicly apologize to Adam Jones and the entire Orioles organization for what occurred at Fenway Park Monday night. No player should have an object thrown at him on the playing field, nor be subjected to any kind of racism at Fenway Park.
"The Red Sox have zero tolerance for such inexcusable behavior, and our entire organization and our fans are sickened by the conduct of an ignorant few. Such conduct should be reported immediately to Red Sox security, and any spectator behaving in this manner forfeits his/her right to remain in the ballpark, and may be subject to further action. Our review of last night's events is ongoing."

Following the game, Jones told USA Today that a fan threw a bag of peanuts at him. The fan was ejected from the game by the Red Sox.
"A disrespectful fan threw a bag of peanuts at me," Jones said. "I was called the 'N' word a handful of times tonight. At the end of the day, when you throw an object onto the field of play, the player has no idea what it is. What if something hit me right in the eye and I can't play baseball anymore? Then what? I just wear it? No."
• Lupica: Applaud Adam, Fenway fans
According to a Red Sox official, approximately 25-30 fans were ejected from Monday's game for a variety of reasons.
"It is what it is, right?" Jones said. "I just go out and play baseball. It's unfortunate that people need to resort to those type of epithets to degrade another human being. I'm trying to make a living for myself and for my family.
"It's unfortunate. The best thing about myself is that I continue to move on, and still play the game hard. Let people be who they are. Let them show their true colors."
The Red Sox and Orioles will play Game 2 of their four-game series at Fenway Park on Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. On Twitter, Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts urged fans to stand up and cheer Jones tonight.
"Literally stand up for @SimplyAJ10 tonight and say no to racism," Betts tweeted. "We as @RedSox and @MLB fans are better than this."