In a matchup soaked in tension at Fenway Park, Major League Baseball chose not to suspend Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora despite his post-game comments hinting at potential retaliation. Cora's remarks came after a game where tempers flared between the Red Sox and their historic rivals, the New York Yankees.
MLB's decision followed an investigation into Cora's statements, which implied that the Red Sox might have aimed to hit Yankees star Aaron Judge in response to Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole's alleged intentional hit on Rafael Devers. Cora had strongly suggested that Cole's actions were deliberate, sparking a league inquiry. However, MLB found no concrete evidence warranting disciplinary measures against Cora.
An Intense Rivalry
The long-standing rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees was palpably intense from the start, culminating in a resounding 7-1 win for the Red Sox. The controversy ignited during the fourth inning when Cole intentionally walked Red Sox slugger Devers. This decision raised eyebrows, given that there were no baserunners and only one out.
As the game reached the sixth inning, the intensity peaked when Red Sox starter Brayan Bello threw his first pitch behind Judge's knees, barely missing the Yankees' heavy hitter. This near-miss led to speculation about possible retaliatory motives from the Red Sox camp.
A History of Dominance
Rafael Devers' performance against Cole added more fuel to the fire. Devers had a remarkable .341 batting average against Cole, hitting eight home runs in 41 at-bats from 2021 to 2024. The duel between the two players often grabbed headlines, and their last encounter on July 6 saw Devers homer during his third and final at-bat against Cole.
Reflecting on the tension post-game, Cora didn't hold back. “I felt like the first at-bat, he hit him on purpose. He doesn’t wanna face him, that’s the bottom line. He told us with the intentional walk that the first at-bat he hit him. We’ll leave it at that. After that, he had bases loaded and had to face him,” Cora asserted.
A Missed Opportunity
Cora continued, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the hit-by-pitch (HBP). “We took exception to [the HBP] because it was loud and clear that he didn’t want to face him. It was intentional, I’m not gonna back off. It was intentional.”
Despite the clashes, it seemed that any chance for further retaliation faded in the sixth inning. As Cora put it, “It was closed [Saturday] around the sixth inning. We had our chance. It didn’t happen.”
Ultimately, the tension and accusations did not overshadow the Red Sox's dominant performance, with Cole succumbing to the relentless Boston bats and suffering the 7-1 defeat.
While MLB's decision to forgo suspending Cora might not sit well with some fans or players, it’s clear that the league remains committed to examining such incidents meticulously. For now, the storied rivalry continues, with Saturday's game adding another chapter to its fiercely contested history.