BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected in the first inning of the opening game of a split doubleheader against Minnesota on Sunday at Fenway Park.
Cora became irate after the umpiring crew came together and decided to allow Byron Buxton to advance to third on an interference call at second on a pickoff attempt.
With Buxton at second, pitcher Nick Pivetta turned and threw to second baseman Vaughn Grissom, who went down to one knee to field the throw directly in the baseline as Buxton made his way back in safely.
Once the call was made, Cora quickly strutted out of the dugout and argued behind the mound, where crew chief Alan Porter ejected him. Porter tried to block him as he attempted to go argue with the other umpires.
Cora walked out to the second-base bag twice and pointed in the area before leaving the field to applause from the fans.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Umpire Alan Porter restrains Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora after he was ejected during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora argues with umpire Alan Porter (64) after being ejected during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
CHICAGO (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo returned Saturday night from the right calf strain that kept the two-time MVP from playing in the Milwaukee Bucks’ previous eight games.
Antetokounmpo was in the starting lineup for the Bucks’ game against the Chicago Bulls, after the team upgraded him after originally listing him as questionable on the injury report.
Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said before the game the nine-time All-Star won’t be thrown back into the grind right away.
“He’ll be on a minutes restriction,” Rivers said.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since injuring his calf less than three minutes into the Bucks’ 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3. The injury came on Antetokounmpo’s fourth game back after a left adductor strain caused him to miss four games.
“Maybe it was a mistake of me coming back a little bit earlier, because once I come back, now you’re overcompensating,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load or play a lot of games in a short period of time. Again, I think all of the things that I was thinking and trying to come back led to the incident that I had with my soleus.”
The Bucks have gone 2-6 in the eight games Antetokounmpo has missed because of the calf issue. So far this season, the Bucks are 9-8 with Antetokounmpo and 3-11 without him.
Antetokounmpo, who turned 31 on Dec. 6, has averaged 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts after suffering an injury during the first half an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen, File)
