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23h ago

Alex Cora Ejected Over Balk Dispute as Astros Rally Past Red Sox

Cora says he sought clarification on an ambiguous balk rule before Yainer Díaz’s two-run homer flipped the game.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 09: Manager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the mound during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on August 09, 2025 in San Diego, California.
Jul 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) stands in the dugout during the eighth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Overview

  • The protest centered on Hunter Brown shifting from wind-up to stretch with Jarren Duran at third, a move Boston argued deserved a balk call under MLB’s subjective guidelines.
  • Cora told NESN he stepped out merely to learn why no balk was called and insisted he was sincere when the umpires dismissed his questions.
  • Hunter Brown yielded one run over 6⅔ innings to notch his 10th win as Houston capitalized on the sequence to take a 4–1 lead.
  • It was Cora’s 22nd career ejection and his fifth this season, underscoring a pattern of confrontations that have punctuated Boston’s inconsistent year.
  • Despite the setback, Trevor Story tied Julio Lugo’s mark with 20 straight stolen bases to start the season as the Red Sox seek steadiness at 66–56.