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‘It was a ball’: Alex Cora’s candid assessment of controversial call in Red Sox loss
Cora also discussed the MLB debut of top prospect Roman Anthony.
Alex Cora’s take on Monday’s moment of controversy: The Red Sox rallied multiple times against the Rays on Monday, but it wasn’t enough in a 10-8 loss at Fenway Park.
A flashpoint in the game occurred in the bottom of the 11th as the Red Sox trailed by two runs. With two on and one out, Boston’s Romy Gonzalez worked a full count. He opted to take a pitch that (per the strike zone shown by NESN’s broadcast) appeared to be low, but was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Junior Valentine. Immediately, Red Sox manager Alex Cora jumped out of the dugout and argued the call. He was quickly ejected by Valentine.
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After the game, Cora provided a succinct view of the matter.
“It was a ball,” he said when asked by reporters about the pitch. “That pitch was a ball. It was down.”
It was a frustrating loss for Boston, given the trio of rallies the Red Sox put together to even get the game into the 11th inning.
On a slightly more positive note, the game was also the MLB debut of No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony. The 21-year-old started in right field and was placed fifth in the batting order, going hitless but collecting a walk and a ninth inning RBI groundout as part of the team’s rally.
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“He was able to slow it down,” Cora said of Anthony. “The walk, hit the ball hard twice, stayed up the middle. He didn’t try to do too much. It was a good first day.”
Trivia: What MLB manager holds the record for most all-time ejections?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He won two World Series titles in his Hall of Fame career, one as a manager (1995).
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Rays 10-8 in 11 innings. Top prospect Roman Anthony made his MLB debut, going 0-for-4 with a walk and an RBI groundout.
The two teams play again at Fenway Park this evening at 7:10 p.m.
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Stanley Cup brawl: The Panthers and Oilers clashed amid a Florida rout in Monday’s Game 3. The Panthers took a 2-1 series lead after the 6-1 win.
Patriots Hall of Fame update: The induction ceremony for Julian Edelman and Bill Parcells will take place on Sept. 20, per a Patriots announcement on June 9.
On this day: In 1987, the Red Sox smashed the Orioles 15-4 behind the combined power of the top two hitters in the batting order that night: Ellis Burks and Marty Barrett, who went a combined 7-for-9 with three home runs and 11 RBIs (each hit a grand slam). Al Nipper took care of things on his own from the mound, pitching a complete game for Boston.
Daily highlight: Oakland Athletics centerfielder Denzel Clarke has been making nonstop highlight catches since being called up to the big leagues in late May. His latest was arguably his greatest, coming in a 7-4 loss to the Angels on Monday.
Trivia answer: Bobby Cox
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