Aaron Judge, a star for the New York Yankees, sent a message to any pitchers who attempt to hit him this season in strong words.
The Red Sox manager Alex Cora seemed to acknowledge that Boston attempted to purposely hit Judge in retaliation throughout the weekend, sparking a growing controversy. The Yankees slugger responded with a sharp remark of his own.
Cora was alluding to a scene in Saturday’s 7-1 victory over the Yankees during the sixth inning, in which Brayan Bellow, the Red Sox starter, fired a fastball behind Judge’s knees. Judge was not touched by the pitch, but Cora appeared to imply that the Red Sox were attempting to hit him with the Yankees ace. Rafael Devers was intentionally walked by Gerrit Cole in the fourth inning after the latter had hit him in the first.
Judge, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be phased by Cora’s promise of harm.
"I think the biggest thing is just don't miss when you do it."
Aaron Judge on Brayan Bello throwing at him yesterday: pic.twitter.com/pP1a2HDhPx
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 15, 2024
Judge remarked, “You play this game for a while, things like that happen,” following the Yankees’ victory on Sunday to close out their season series with the Red Sox. “I am aware of their anger. That day, I believe three of their guys were hit. They’re basically shielding their athletes, in my opinion. As this game has been policed for a century, something needs to happen, and that is how it is handled. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to simply not miss when doing it.
In the Yankees’ 5-2 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday, Judge extended their lead in the AL East with his major league-leading 53rd home run.
Cora hinted that the Red Sox attempted to even the score in the rivalry when he stated on Sunday that he believed the Yankees intentionally hit Devers: “It was closed [Saturday] around the sixth inning.” Our opportunity was here. That was not the case.
The MLB is looking into Cora’s remarks right now, but no disciplinary action has been taken as of yet.
MLB is looking into the Red Sox for purposefully throwing toward a Yankees star.
Many questioned the intention of Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello’s throw on Saturday when he threw it behind Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. Was it only Bello’s fault, or was it a kind of payback for Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole’s earlier-in-game pitching strikeout of Rafael Devers? With the opportunity to put an end to any rumors, Boston manager Alex Cora accomplished just the opposite. The New York Post’s Mark W. Sanchez claims.
“It was closed [Saturday] around the sixth inning,” Cora responded when asked on Sunday if the rivalry was over. Our opportunity was here. It was not the case.” Major League Baseball is now looking into Cora to determine whether Bello’s pitch was indeed meant as payback, per a recent story. As of Monday morning, the New York Post stated that MLB is looking into the matter but has not made a determination.