Pirates reliever Jared Hughes has issued a statement regarding Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips' accusations that Hughes used a racial epithet during a confrontation between the two during Monday night's game. Andrew McCutchen facilitated a conversation between Hughes and Phillips on Tuesday that seemed to have resolved the problem, but before Tuesday's game, Phillips repeated the claim that Hughes said something racist, while also saying that he wanted to get past the incident.

"In response to Brandon Phillips’ TV interview yesterday prior to the game, I feel compelled to once again make it perfectly clear that I did not make any comment with a racial undertone or connotation during our exchange on Monday night, period. While I cannot repeat everything that I said because I did swear, it is obvious when reviewing the tape that I in no way, shape or form made any remark that was in any way connected to race. It is not how I was raised and not who I am as a person."

It's clear from the tape that Hughes swore, but not clear that he said anything racist. That doesn't mean he didn't say anything racist, but right now, the documented evidence appears to be on his side. Obviously, though, if he did say something, Phillips is well within his rights to call him out on it.

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