Why Alex Cora, Francisco Lindor Laughed About Fiery Red Sox Ejections

BOSTON — The Red Sox overcame what could have been two costly ejections Tuesday night to take the series from the New York Mets.

Walker Buehler and Alex Cora got ejected for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Mike Estabrook. Francisco Lindor got hit by a pitch in the third inning and stole second with Juan Soto at the plate. The pitch Lindor ran on got called a ball, which sparked an understandable reaction from Buehler and Cora.

During the arguments, Lindor stood on second base and motioned for the Red Sox manager to get tossed. He got his wish, though Boston’s bullpen did enough behind solo home runs from Carlos Narvaez and Rafael Devers for the win.

Cora and Lindor had breakfast in Boston before Wednesday’s series finale and joked about that interactions with no bad blood whatsoever.

“Trevor (Story) told me too that he was doing the same thing when I was arguing,” Cora said. “It is what it is. He’s a good kid.”

“I did, I kept on saying to throw him out,” Lindor said. “No. 1, Buehler is a great pitcher. Getting him out of the game puts the team at a disadvantage. It didn’t work out for us yesterday. It’s part of the game. Then, you throw Alex out and make Ramón Vázquez make the decision.”

The natives of Caguas, Puerto Rico share a mutual respect with moments at the top of the sport. Lindor reflected on meeting the Cora brothers as a Little Leaguer and raved about the manager’s impact with the Red Sox and the example he sets for baseball in Puerto Rico.

“He’s a friend, he’s a mentor,” Lindor said. “From the same hometown. He’s somebody I look up to and admire. I have a lot of respect for him and what he has done in the game. Not just in the game but back home. His brother Joey is somebody I admire as well.”

Lindor added: “He’s a true professional. He’s a great manager. He’s one of the smartest guys around. He got an extension for a reason. He handled himself the right way, not just with the media, but also with his peers and the clubhouse. He’s a players’ manager for sure.”

In an effort of gamesmanship, the All-Star found humor in his campaign as he explained the door that opened for the Mets to take over the game.

“It’s one of those where you can see everything happening,” Lindor explained. “We just didn’t capitalize on it. We had opportunities. We didn’t capitalize on it. At the end of the day, they ended up winning the game. How everything yesterday can hopefully help us today.”

The Mets star shortstop reaffirmed that he did not have any animosity with Buehler after the hit-by-pitch and ensuing ejections, which sparked a social media response from the Red Sox starter.

“I don’t got nothing against Buehler,” Lindor said. “I’m a lover. I don’t really care.”