With the Boston Red Sox all but mathematically out of postseason contention, manager Alex Cora let out some of his frustration during Sunday’s doubleheader opener against the Minnesota Twins.
Holy Hell. Alex Cora just went berserk after Vaughn Grissom was called for interference.
Grissom dropped his knee on the pickoff attempt. Then was moved over to 3B. pic.twitter.com/deCJDJ11Nt
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) September 22, 2024
In the top of the first, Cora calmly walked out of the dugout to talk to the umpires after an obstruction call was made at second base. But the interaction turned heated with Cora waving his arms wildly. He then ran out to the second base bag, motioning with his hands from his eyes to the bag, while pointing furiously at second base umpire Dan Merzel. Cora then had to be held back by third base umpire Alan Porter.
The manager was quickly ejected.
The trouble started with Byron Buxton on second base. Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta threw back to the bag. But while receiving the throw, the knee of Red Sox second baseman Vaughn Grissom blocked the bag and the umpires moved the runner to third on an obstruction.
Cora appeared to be upset Porter made the call and not Merzel, despite Merzel’s proximity to the play.
The play was rule was ruled an error on Grissom but Pivetta got out of the inning unscathed.
It marked Cora’s third ejection of the season. He will be eligible to manage the second game of the doubleheader starting at 5:35 p.m. ET.
(Top photo of Red Sox manager Alex Cora getting held back by umpire Alan Porter on Sunday: Winslow Townson / Getty Images)
