Tension at Fenway Park: Buehler and Cora Ejected
An encounter charged with emotions between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets experienced a high point in the third inning. Pitcher Walker Buehler and manager Alex Cora were ejected after a heated exchange with the home plate umpire, Mike Estabrook.
Buehler, who was returning to the mound after a brief stint on the injured list, showed his frustration with an umpire’s decision. Estabrook called a ball on a pitch that appeared to be a strike against Juan Soto, while Francisco Lindor stole second base.
That’s right in the [expletive] middle
Walker Buehler
Buehler’s reaction provoked the immediate response of the umpire, who ordered him to return to the mound. Faced with the pitcher’s insistence, Estabrook did not hesitate to eject him.
Seconds later, Alex Cora came out of the dugout to defend his pitcher, and was also ejected after arguing with Estabrook. The head of the umpiring crew, Laz Díaz, had to intervene to separate the Puerto Rican manager from the home plate umpire.
This was Cora’s 18th ejection of his career and the first of the season.
It should be noted that Cora was not present at Monday’s game, due to his daughter’s college graduation. In his absence, bench coach Ramón Vázquez took the reins of the team, and joked in a press conference that he was “retiring” from managing. However, he had to lead the team again after Cora’s early departure in the second game of the series.
For Buehler, this was the second ejection of his career, curiously both against the New York team.
