close
close

Alex Cora won't be suspended by MLB for suggesting the Red Sox threw against Yankees' Aaron Judge | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora will not face a suspension from MLB after suggesting that pitcher Brayan Bello intentionally threw at New York Yankees star Aaron Judge on Saturday, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.

Bello threw the first pitch behind Judge's legs in the sixth inning of the Red Sox's 7-1 victory.

The New York PostMark W. Sanchez of Boston University reported Monday that MLB is investigating Cora after the Boston manager said his team had a “chance” to retaliate for an earlier hit-by-pitch in the sixth inning.

The controversy arose when Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole hit Red Sox hitter Rafael Devers with a pitch in the first inning on Saturday. Cora told reporters after the game he believed the contact was intentional.

In Devers' next at-bat in the fourth inning, Cole intentionally walked him with the bases empty and one out.

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Devers had previously posted a .333 batting average in 39 at-bats against Cole, hitting eight home runs against the Yankees pitcher.

Cora said after the game that he was “not at all surprised” by Cole's intentional walk.

“He doesn't want to face him. That's the bottom line,” Cora told reporters. “He told us with the intentional walk that he hit him on the first pitch.”

On Sunday, Cora was asked by a reporter if he believed the situation was “a closed case.”

“Yeah,” Cora replied, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. “It was over yesterday, like, in the sixth inning, so we had our chance. It didn't happen. We have to move on.”

Bello's sinker in the sixth inning was measured at 97.4 mph behind Judge.

According to Cotillo, MLB “has been investigating the matter for the past two days and has spoken to Cora about his comments.”

Following this investigation, a source told Cotillo that “no announcement of a suspension is imminent.”

The Yankees outfielder responded to Cora's comment by saying he believed the incident was part of the “Red Sox's protective measures for their players.”

“This kind of thing happens… something has to happen, and that's how this game is policed, and it's been that way for 100 years,” Judge told reporters, according to Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe. “So the most important thing is that you don't miss anything.”

Judge and the Yankees had the last laugh at Cora and the Red Sox when New York came back on Sunday to win 5-2 for its third victory in the four-game weekend series.