While Xander Bogaerts started at shortstop for the Boston Red Sox against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, he wasn’t around for the finish. Bogaerts and his manager, Alex Cora, were ejected in the fourth inning arguing a called third strike.
Bogaerts came up in the top of the fourth with one runner on, two outs and the Red Sox trailing 6-4. Baltimore’s Jordan Lyles appeared to be low but home plate umpire Todd Tichenor rang Bogaerts up for strike three. Bogaerts quickly threw his bat and said something to Tichenor, prompting an ejection. Boston manager, Alex Cora tried to get out quick enough to keep Bogaerts from getting ejected but couldn’t get out there in time. He was also tossed.
Xander Bogaerts and Alex Cora have been ejected by the HP umpire following their reactions to this strikeout call. pic.twitter.com/M2GohtcD1K
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 20, 2022
Bogaerts has struggled of late. Entering Friday’s game, Bogaerts was hitting only .256/.320/.400 with two home runs since the All-Star Break. August has been even worse, with Bogaerts hitting .218/.254/.327 and only one home run. The Red Sox have more or less followed suit. Heading into Friday, they sat at 11-15 in the second half of the season and 8-8 in August.
Boston’s playoff chances have taken a hit since, then, as well. The Red Sox went into the series with Baltimore in last place in the American League East and five games out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League.
That prompted many in the baseball world to wonder if Bogaerts’ frustration might have been about more than just this call.
Cant say I've ever seen Cora that upset. He was incensed. Only the second career ejection for Bogaerts. He's been frustrated for weeks with his play.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 20, 2022
I’ve never seen Bogaerts react like that. He’s obviously frustrated but that was a brutal call.
Odd to see from the Captain.
— BallPark Buzz (@BallParkBuzz) August 20, 2022
Pitch to Bogaerts was a touch low and out of the strike zone. He is also very frustrated by the way he is performing.
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) August 20, 2022
That's just Bogaerts's second career ejection. August 31 2018 was the only other. Can't get thrown out of this game, though. Too important. Clearly, frustration is mounting for the Sox shortstop.
— Julian McWilliams (@byJulianMack) August 20, 2022
It would make sense. Bogaerts was correct. The pitch from Lyles was out of the strike zone. That said, we’ve definitely seen far greater mistakes from MLB umpires this year.
Xander Bogaerts ejected because Todd Tichenor was wrong (5). That's about how it's going for the #RedSox so far this evening.
Orioles with a 6-4 lead in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/EFJ6INFcSj
— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) August 20, 2022
Bogaerts definitely could have handled this better. That said, maybe he did just need to blow off some steam. And who knows? It could be something that sparks the Red Sox going forward. Stranger things have happened.
