Walker Buehler and Alex Cora returned to the Boston Red Sox for Tuesday's game against the New York Mets. Neither made it past the third inning.
Buehler, starting on the mound for the first time since April 26 due to a shoulder injury, was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with one out in the top of the third. An apparent strike against Mets slugger Juan Soto was ruled a ball, and Buehler let home plate umpire Mike Estabrook hear it.
"That was right down the (expletive) middle!" Buehler yelled at Estabrook, who promptly tossed the veteran right-hander out of the game.
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SIGN UP HERE That lured Cora out of the dugout, and the Red Sox' manager was also ejected after a heated exchange with Estabrook.
Watch the entire sequence in the video below, via SNY:
Cora was replaced by bench coach Ramon Vazquez, who also covered for Boston's skipper while he celebrated his daughter's graduation on Monday.
"I wasn't even paying attention (at first),” Cora said of Buehler's ejection. “We were waiting for the call from Mikey on the replay, and then I looked up and he threw (Buehler) out. I was just begging, ‘Give me a break. I’ll go out and you can throw me out. We'll keep the pitcher in the game.’ But I guess he had enough.”
Buehler's ejection came at a less-than-ideal time for the Red Sox bullpen. The group was already taxed heading into the matchup after a collective effort in Monday's win, but for the second straight night, Boston's relievers stepped up. They kept the Mets off the scoreboard the rest of the way in a 2-0 victory.
"For me personally, it's one of those things that you're very conflicted,” Buehler said of his ejection. “I felt very convicted in what I felt and saw, but at the same time, this is a team game and something I kind of let get out of hand. And personally, that's kind of the disappointing part of it.”
Tuesday's win brings the Red Sox back to .500 at 25-25. They will look to finish off a series sweep of the Mets on Wednesday.
