Alex Cora’s words land him in trouble as MLB launches investigation following Brayan Bello’s alleged deliberate attack on Aaron Judge
The Boston Red Sox are on the verge of missing out on the postseason and have found themselves in another controversy. The MLB has launched an investigation into manager Alex Cora following remarks he made about an incident involving one of their pitchers.
During the Red Sox’s 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday, pitcher Brayan Bello threw several pitches outside the strike zone, appearing to target Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
Many speculated that Bello’s actions were in retaliation for a hit-by-pitch incident earlier in the game when Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole hit Red Sox batter Rafael Devers in the first inning.
Manager Alex Cora commented on the incident on Sunday, and his remarks seemed to support the speculation of an intentional throw at Judge. When discussing the event, Cora said:
“It was closed (Saturday), like around the sixth inning. So, you know, we had our chance. Didn’t happen, and we have to move on.”
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Alex Cora's comments suggesting that the Red Sox intentionally tried to hit Yankees captain Aaron Judge are under investigation by MLB. However, Cotillo's sources also indicated that the investigation is a standard part of the league's process.
If the investigation goes against Alex Cora, he could face punishment, as managers can be suspended if it is determined that their pitcher intentionally hit or tried to hit a batter.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone reacts to Red Sox manager Alex Coras’s comments about intentional hit
After the New York Yankees’ 5-2 victory against the Boston Red Sox in Sunday's finale, Yankees manager Aaron Boone also expressed dissatisfaction with Alex Cora’s remarks.
“Yeah, that’s not allowed,” Boone said. “So that’s for somebody else to deal with. So we’re finished playing with them for now. We’re on to Seattle. Obviously, you can’t do that.”
“I think it’s a manager that’s using that moment to rally his troops a little bit as they’re fighting for their playoff lives,” he added.
The Yankees (87-63), with a .580 winning percentage, are leading the AL East, while the Red Sox are in third place in the division with a .500 winning percentage.
The Bronx Bombers are headed to Seattle for a three-game series against the Mariners, while the Red Sox are set to face the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.