The Boston Red Sox’s turbulent 2025 season took another dramatic turn on Monday, June 24, at Angel Stadium, where manager Alex Cora was ejected for the second consecutive game during a frustrating 9-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The ejection, sparked by a contentious double play call, came amid another shaky start by pitcher Walker Buehler, whose command issues handed the Angels a five-run first inning and fueled fan outrage online. With the Red Sox dropping to 40-40 and slipping in the AL wild-card race, this clash has ignited debates about team strategy, umpire decisions, and Buehler’s future.
The fireworks began in the fifth inning when Jarren Duran was caught in a rundown and tagged out, followed by Abraham Toro’s attempt to advance to second. Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo tagged Toro out, but Cora erupted, arguing that Rengifo obstructed Toro’s path with his knee. Umpire Alan Porter, who also ejected Cora the previous night against the Giants, stood firm, and after a heated exchange, Cora was tossed. “We felt that the runner, no matter what the fielder had done in that situation, the runner was out,” Porter told reporters, defending the call. Cora, visibly incensed, later vented, “He’s safe. Clearly. I think he got thrown out because he voiced his opinion. I’ll be the one getting in trouble.”
This marks Cora’s fourth ejection of the season and second straight, following a similar dispute over an obstruction call. Fans on X are split, with some calling it umpire bias, while others blame Cora’s fiery approach. The Red Sox’s baserunning blunders—four outs on the bases and 13 free passes issued—only amplified the tension.
The game’s tone was set early when Buehler, signed for $21.05 million to bolster Boston’s rotation, imploded in the first inning. Given a 3-0 lead, the veteran right-hander walked four, hit two batters, and surrendered five runs on 39 pitches, tying the game. He finished with a career-high seven walks over four innings, pushing his ERA to 6.29. “It’s embarrassing,” Buehler admitted postgame. “It’s just not who I want to be as a baseball player. I’d rather get whacked around than do that.” Despite blanking the Angels over his final three frames, his inconsistency—11.57 ERA over 16.1 innings in June—has fans questioning his health and role.
Cora defended Buehler, saying, “One hundred percent” he’s healthy, attributing the struggles to mechanical issues. Yet Buehler’s cryptic response, “I don’t want to talk about that,” when asked about injuries, has sparked speculation. After a heroic World Series run with the Dodgers in 2024, including the final out, his Red Sox tenure has been a rollercoaster, with critics labeling him a “failed reclamation project” on social media.
The Angels seized control in the eighth, scoring four runs off reliever Garrett Whitlock, who allowed two hits and three walks. Zach Neto’s leadoff homer and Christian Moore’s sacrifice fly sealed the deal, while Red Sox errors, including a throwing miscue by Wong, compounded the damage. Boston tied it at 5-5 in the sixth thanks to Trevor Story’s homer, but their 11 walks and sloppy defense proved costly. “We’ll bounce back. These games happen,” Aaron Judge, watching from the Yankees’ perspective, noted, reflecting the AL East’s tight race.