Overview
- The incident occurred Wednesday at Fenway Park when interim third-base coach Chad Epperson left the coach’s box, stepped into fair territory and waved Wilyer Abreu toward home plate.
- Umpires told both teams that a repeat would lead to ejection, a warning confirmed by Orioles manager Craig Albernaz and reported after the game.
- MLB Official Baseball Rule 5.03 requires base coaches to stay in the coach’s box except in narrow cases when leaving does not interfere with a play, which raises questions about whether Epperson’s move complied with the rule.
- The plate call was initially ruled safe but was overturned on video review when replays showed the tag was in time, and the Red Sox went on to win 8-1 with Abreu finishing 2-for-5 including a two-run homer.
- Epperson was serving as interim third-base coach after Boston dismissed Alex Cora and other staff earlier in the season, and the rare on-field move is likely to make other coaches more cautious about leaving the box.