Tensions flared between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox over the weekend, sparking a back-and-forth between managers Aaron Boone and Alex Cora regarding the possible intent behind pitches aimed at star players.
The drama began in Saturday’s game when Yankees ace Gerrit Cole hit Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers with a pitch.
Cora believed it was intentional, implying that Boston retaliated by targeting Yankees captain Aaron Judge, although no pitch actually connected.
After Sunday’s 5-2 Yankees victory, Cora downplayed the incident, calling it a “closed case.”
“Yeah, it was closed yesterday, like around the sixth inning,” Cora told MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “We had our chance. It didn’t happen. We have to move on.”
Boone, however, had a stronger reaction to Cora’s suggestion that Boston intentionally threw at Judge during Saturday’s game.
“That’s not allowed,” Boone said. “That’s for somebody else to deal with. We’re finished playing with them. We’re on to Seattle.”
Judge himself didn’t seem overly bothered by the situation, acknowledging the heated nature of the rivalry.
“Things like that happen,” Judge said. “I know they’re upset. I think three of their guys got hit. I think they’re just protecting their players. That’s the way this game kind of gets policed. The biggest thing is just don’t miss.”
Cora, visibly frustrated after Devers was hit, had tried to use the incident as motivation for his team heading into Sunday’s game.
“If this happens (making the playoffs), we’re going to look back at yesterday,” Cora said.. “We’re probably going to thank Gerrit Cole for getting us going. Hopefully it happens and hopefully we can face him in the playoffs because he will have to pitch to him (Devers).
“Hopefully it happens. We still have a long way to go. I’m not promising that we’re going to make the playoffs, but if we do, we’re going to look back on Saturday.”
Boston, however, lost the series and fell to 75-75 on the season, sitting 4.5 games behind in the race for the American League’s final wild card spot.
With just 12 games left, a playoff berth for the Red Sox looks increasingly unlikely.
Despite the tension, Cora maintains a personal friendship with Boone, as the two worked together at ESPN before becoming rival managers. Yet, they didn’t see eye to eye on this issue.
Judge, who always says and does the right thing – except for when he’s blowing off Little Leaguers (kidding!) – made it clear that he’s unrattled by the situation and understands it’s all a part of old-school baseball.
“You play this game for a while, things like that happen,” Judge said. “I know they’re upset that three of their guys got hit that day, and I think they’re just protecting their players.
“So something’s got to happen, and that’s the way this game kind of gets policed. It’s been policed for over 100 years. So I think the biggest thing is, just don’t miss when you do it.”
“We talked, and there’s two ways of seeing it, right? Their dugout and our dugout,” said Cora. “And, like I told him, ‘Put yourself in our shoes and you will understand why we feel this way.’ We’ll leave it at that.”
Boone, speaking to reporters prior to Sunday’s game, insisted that Cole’s pitch wasn’t meant to hit Devers. He speculated that Cora’s reaction was partly an attempt to rally his team as they fight for a playoff spot.
“First of all, I would say Gerrit was not throwing at him,” Boone said. “I have a lot of respect for Alex and think he’s great at what he does. I think it’s also a manager that’s using that moment a little bit to rally his troops a little bit as they’re fighting for their playoff lives.
“They’re playing for a lot over there, and I think this is an opportunity to galvanize them a little bit. I think [there is] probably a little gamesmanship to it.”
The Yankees have now shifted their focus to the Seattle Mariners as they continue their march toward October.
With 12 games left in the regular season, New York is on track to clinch the AL East title and secure home-field advantage.
Judge’s resurgence after a recent slump and the emergence of top prospect Jasson Dominguez have provided the Yankees with added firepower as they gear up for a potential deep postseason run.
If the Red Sox fail to make a miraculous push for the playoffs, the two fierce rivals won’t face each other again until 2025. But for now, the Yankees seem to be heating up at just the right time, and Boone’s squad remains firmly focused on winning their 28th World Series title.
What are your thoughts on the drama that unfolded in the Bronx over the weekend???