The Boston Red Sox secured a 7-1 victory over their division rivals, the New York Yankees, in a game filled with noteworthy moments. In the first inning, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole hit Rafael Devers with a pitch and later intentionally walked him in the fourth. The Red Sox capitalized, scoring three consecutive runs, shifting the momentum of the game.
Afterward, Red Sox manager Alex Cora addressed the situation with New England Sports Network, stating, “It was intentional,” regarding Cole’s pitch at Devers.
This incident adds another layer to the long-standing rivalry between the two teams, although it’s not comparable to past altercations like the infamous 2013 Ryan Dempster-Alex Rodriguez incident.
Despite the hit-by-pitch, Devers maintained his composure and continued his impressive track record against Cole, boasting a .350 average with eight home runs and 20 RBIs in 40 at-bats.
Why did Red Sox Alex Cora react to Gerrit Cole hitting Rafael Devers in that way?
Despite the growing tension between the Red Sox and Yankees ahead of the MLB Playoffs, one key moment in the game stood out: Gerrit Cole’s decision to intentionally walk Rafael Devers during his second at-bat. Devers ended the game going 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs, continuing his strong performance against the Yankees ace. Red Sox manager Alex Cora felt the decision revealed Cole’s fear of facing Devers, especially after hitting him earlier in the game.
“I wasn’t surprised by the intentional walk,” Cora said, via *Sports Illustrated*. “In the first at-bat, I felt Cole hit Devers on purpose. He doesn’t want to face him. That’s the bottom line.”
Boston, four games out of the second wild-card spot with 13 games left, faces a tough playoff race but would relish spoiling the Yankees’ AL East title hopes. The Yankees currently lead the Orioles by 2.5 games for first place in the division. The Red Sox will look to secure a series win against their rivals on Sunday.
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