Reactions: Joey Votto, Cubs' Rowan Wick exchange words; Votto mourns with Buffalo, Uvalde

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto exchanged words with Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Rowan Wick during the 8th inning of the Reds' 4-3 win Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park, but Votto did not want to discuss the exchange with Bally Sports Ohio's Jim Day on the field after the game out of respect for the victims of recent mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.

Wick threw a pitch up and in during Votto's 8th-inning at-bat, and when Votto later walked, Wick appeared to use profanity in addressing Votto. Votto appeared to yell at Wick, a fellow Canadian, and at the Cubs' dugout.

"You know, today I really don't - I haven't felt in the mood to talk ball today," Votto told Day afterward on Bally Sports Ohio, when asked whether Wick said something to him. "I just wanted to say to Buffalo, to Uvalde, to communities that were affected by the recent shootings: We mourn with you. You know, it's unfathomable. And you have our love, you have our support. You know, we just got done enjoying a ballgame. But, you're not alone. We think about you. And you have our love and support. So that's all I really wanted to say tonight. It's been a wild stretch over the last little bit, and we're so sorry. Our condolences. My condolences. And again, you have our love. Thanks."

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"You know, we were just - (Wick) had something to say, and I answered," Votto told reporters later. "And that's how ball is sometimes. You're competitive. And clearly he was competing and locked in on performing well. And I'm pulling on the opposite end of the same rope. And if someone says something to me, sometimes I don't answer. But I wasn't in the mood to keep my mouth shut. And you know, it's part of the game. It can be one of the more enjoyable parts of the game - you know competing, some talk. I really enjoy that part of the game. Sometimes it can be overextended, can be taken too far. But generally speaking, I enjoy that part as long as the other party is fine with taking it. You know, you give it to me, no problem. I'll (expletive) give it back."

After Reds reliever Hunter Strickland hit the Cubs' Patrick Wisdom in the 9th, Cubs manager David Ross was ejected for arguing with umpires.

"You don't put the tying run at the plate with one out," Votto continued, when discussing whether Strickland hit Wisdom on purpose. "That was absolutely unintentional. You know, we are trying to win a baseball game, and our closer's coming in - and he just misfires a ball. There's no - we don't get paid for retribution. We get paid to complete games, to perform well. And the idea that he did that on purpose in the 9th inning (leading by) two runs - what? And people have every right to think what they think. But it couldn't have been less intentional. And they may not accept that - hey, that's fine. No problem. We'll keep playing."

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