ICYMI: Boston Red Sox skipper Alex Cora banished from the touchline against Kansas City Royals in most bizarre ejection of the year
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora was booted out of the Kansas City Royals game today in what has to be the most bizarre ejection of the year.
The Red Sox fell to a 7-3 defeat against the Royals in their series opener. While Boston was 4-3 behind in the bottom of the seventh, Cora was sent off by plate umpire Bill Welke.
Alex Cora gets ejected for what appears to be light conversation https://t.co/KP9SQEo7Cj
"Alex Cora gets ejected for what appears to be light conversation" - Jomboy Media
Royals catcher Salvador Perez launched a three-run homer that bounced off a green pad at the base of the left field foul pole.
Perez’s hit was ruled a home run following an umpire review. The Royals stretched their lead to 7-3, which ended up being the final score.
Salvador Perez launches a THREE-RUN BLAST off of the foul pole 🔥
#TogetherRoyal #DirtyWater #Royals #RedSox #MLB https://t.co/M3j6A3mk2v
Dissatisfied with the call, Cora engaged in dialog with umpire Welke which resulted in the strangest ejection of the year. Cora appeared calm and composed throughout the conversation, but Welke seemingly didn’t like something the Boston Red Sox skipper had to say.
Cora was shocked at the decision and pleaded his case to the official, but to no avail. He shared his thoughts on the incident following the game.
"I don't want to get into that. I don't think I deserved to be thrown out in that one," Cora said after the game. "I was very calmly asking what happened and whatever, he threw me out. It happens, I guess."
Cora’s send-off wasn’t the only ejection on Thursday. Earlier in the day, San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler was also given his marching orders against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, this incident involved a more heated exchange.
Boston Red Sox have a lot more to analyze beyond Alex Cora’s ejection
The Boston Red Sox raced to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, courtesy of Rafael Devers’ two-run RBI single.
The Royals’ M.J. Melendez reduced the deficit to 2-1 with a solo homer in the bottom of the first. Vinnie Pasquantino’s sacrifice fly leveled matters shortly after.
Perez then put the Royals ahead with an RBI single to end the fifth inning. Kevin Plawecki then tied it 3-3 with a game-changing knock in the top of the seventh.
Bobby Witt Jr.'s go-ahead single tipped the scales in the Royals’ favor before Perez’s controversial seventh inning homer rubber-stamped the 7-3 victory.
Cora clarified after the game that his ejection had nothing to do with the final outcome of the game.
“That didn’t decide the game,” Cora said. “We walked the ninth hitter twice, he got on base three times. We got two lefties there that we have to do a better job. We have to be better. We cannot rely on three or four guys. It’s a total team effort.”
The Boston Red Sox will be hoping for better fortunes when they face the Royals in Game 2 later tonight.