Fans find it hilarious that Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is confounded as team hits 8 home runs in 3 games: "They definitely juiced the balls"
Thankfully for Boston Red Sox fans, they got a full helping of offensive excitement in their team's season-opening series against the Baltimore Orioles.
With both teams finishing out the 2022 season leapfrogging each other out of last place in the AL East, expectations were not particularly high ahead of their meeting.
After Orioles rookie catcher Adley Rutschman homered in the second at-bat of the game, third baseman Ramon Urias followed up with a jack of his own in the fourth. The first game of the series ended up being a 10-9 win for the O's.
However, the true hit-fest started on April 1, the second game of the season for both teams. The Baltimore Orioles got on the board first after solo shots from Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle in the first inning, and outfielder Cedric Mullins added a solo home run of his own in the third inning.
The Boston Red Sox, however, countered. Alex Verdugo and former Atlanta Braves star Adam Duvall both hit two-run shots in the third. Kiki Hernandez followed suit in the seventh, and Duvall returned to win it with a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth.
Following the game, which more closely resembled a home run derby, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora shared his thoughts.
Alex Cora on so many HR: “This is different man, I’ve never seen something like this so early in the season. The ball is flying.”
"Alex Cora on so many HR: 'This is different man, I’ve never seen something like this so early in the season. The ball is flying.'" - Boston Strong
The Orioles and Red Sox are now second and fourth on the MLB home run leaderboard with nine and eight home runs, respectively. This is a stark difference to last season, when the Orioles and Red Sox placed 15th and 20th, respectively, out of 30 teams.
@BostonStrong_34 It’s flying because pitchers have no time to think about the next pitch and are just gunning it hoping for a strike. A lot of pitches just being left in the middle of the zone
Naturally, fans took to Twitter to provide some explanation as to why the balls were soaring out of Fenway Park this weekend. A significant number seem to believe that there is a broader conspiracy by the MLB to "juice balls" that stimulate offense.
@BostonStrong_34 they definitely juiced the balls. doing it for more fan entertainment
@BostonStrong_34 Juiced ball probably back
@BostonStrong_34 @rfritz901 Juiced balls confirmed
Other fans took more direct aim at Cora and the Boston Red Sox pitching staff. The team's staff is now tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks as the team which has surrendered the most home runs in 2023. Last season, Red Sox pitchers surrendered 185 home runs, the eighth highest in the MLB.
@BostonStrong_34 That’s what happens when you have a complete disaster of a pitching staff
@BostonStrong_34 Because his pitching sucks
Alex Cora and the Boston Red Sox should hope that the onslaught does not stop
Although the Boston Red Sox have surrendered a lot of home runs, they have also hit a lot. Sharing a division with heavy hitters like Aaron Judge means that the team will need as many home runs as they can get this season, regardless of whether or not the balls are "juiced."