MLB reviewing comments by Red Sox manager Alex Cora that indicate Boston threw at Aaron Judge on Saturday
Major League Baseball is reviewing comments from Red Sox manager Alex Cora that seemed to indicate Boston intentionally threw a pitch at Aaron Judge on Saturday, according to a source.
Cora could draw a fine or suspension from MLB for seeming to admit that pitcher Brayan Bello intentionally threw the ball behind Judge’s back in the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium.
The Red Sox had three batters hit by Gerrit Cole pitches earlier in the game, including Rafael Devers in the first inning.
Cora said after Saturday’s game that he thought Cole threw at Devers intentionally because he didn’t want to pitch to him. Cole later walked Devers intentionally in a surprising move that demonstrated that the Yankees ace didn’t want to pitch to the slugger, who has owned him for years. But Cole said the hit by pitch was not on purpose.
On Sunday, Cora said he considered the matter closed.
“It was closed [Saturday] like around the sixth inning,” he said. “We had our chance. Didn’t happen. And we have to move on.”
By “had our chance,” Cora apparently was referring to a pitch that almost hit Judge, the major-league leader in home runs (53) and RBIs (132).
Judge brushed off the alleged brushback pitch. Aaron Boone did not.
“Yeah, that’s not allowed,” he said. “That’s for somebody else to deal with. We’re finished playing with them for now. We’re on to Seattle now. Obviously, [the Red Sox] can’t do that.”
With David Lennon
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
