The Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora made remarks that strongly suggested the club threw at Aaron Judge during their weekend series against the New York Yankees. Major League Baseball is looking into these remarks.
Cora made a clear indication on Sunday that the Red Sox attempted to hit Judge in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game but were unsuccessful. The Red Sox “had our chance” in the sixth inning and failed to hit Judge, so he believed that any back-and-forth between the two teams was finished, he said before Sunday’s game.
Alex Cora basically admitted that Brayan Bello tried plunking Aaron Judge on purpose. He was asked if he considered yesterday's IBB/HBP fiasco closed:
"It was closed yesterday around the sixth inning. We had our chance. It didn't happen." pic.twitter.com/x1z4iA0HfF
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 15, 2024
Rafael Devers of the Red Sox was hit by a pitch in the first inning on Saturday by Gerrit Cole. The Red Sox believed Cole purposely hit Devers with a pitch in the first inning as a workaround to put him on base, and Cole later walked Devers with nobody on base. That’s why Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello threw behind Judge in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game, according to Cora’s comments.
MLB is looking into Cora’s remarks, Chris Cotillo of MassLive revealed on Monday. He also said that this is a routine step in the league’s procedure.
MLB is reviewing Alex Cora's comments alluding to the fact the Red Sox tried intentionally to retaliate by hitting Aaron Judge on Saturday, a source confirms. The matter is open in the league's eyes.
Source says it's "aa standard part of the process."
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 16, 2024
If the league decides Cora was hinting to throwing at Judge, he might still face penalties. Managers, like Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays, who was suspended last week for an incident involving one of his pitchers, may face suspension if it is shown that their pitcher intentionally threw at an opposing hitter.
Although the Red Sox prevailed in the game on Saturday, Judge and the Yankees emerged victorious on Sunday.
Aaron Judge Reacts To Alex Cora’s Open Statement Regarding Retaliation
After a fierce game on Saturday afternoon that saw the Red Sox and Yankees share the field, Alex Cora didn’t waste any time in turning things around.
Aaron Judge adopted the same strategy.
When Gerrit Cole struck Rafael Devers in the first inning, which Cora believed to be deliberate, tensions between the longstanding rivals began to rise. When the visitors “had their chance” to answer but failed to do so in the sixth frame, Boston’s manager claimed the matter was closed and brought up the incident once more on Sunday afternoon. Cora seemed to be alluding to the fact that Judge was thrown behind by Brayan Bello without being struck.
Judge didn’t back down from the situation, but he also didn’t show his frustration. According to The Boston Globe, Judge told reporters, “Things like that happen. I know they’re upset. I think three other guys got it that day, and I think they’re just protecting their players. So something’s got to happen and that’s the way this game kind of gets policed and has been policed for 100 years. So the biggest thing is don’t miss when you do it.” Aaron Boone declined to respond to Cora’s direct comment because deliberate beanings are “not allowed” in Major League Baseball.
With a 5-2 victory on Sunday, Judge and the Yankees earned the last laugh in a series finale devoid of any theatrical flourishes. The Bronx Bombers not only won the final regular-season series between the rival teams, but they also lessened the probability that the Red Sox would make it to the postseason.
