The Boston Red Sox may have come into Monday night’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays with renewed momentum, but they left the field with frustration and their manager, Alex Cora, watching the end from the clubhouse.
Red Sox Lose in Extras, Cora Let His Frustration Show
The Red Sox lost 10-8 in 11 innings after overcoming an early 3-0 deficit and forcing the game into extra innings, but how it ended had players, fans, and social media talking. Boston was threatening in the bottom of the eleventh when Romy Gonzalez took a close pitch on a full count that seemed to be ball four.
It was referred to as strike three instead. Home plate umpire Junior Valentine, who had already garnered criticism for a strike zone that many felt lacked consistency, swiftly removed Cora when he stormed out of the dugout.
Alex Cora being tossed for the second time this season.
Just had to do it after how things played out for Zack Kelly. pic.twitter.com/qByjySISlL
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) June 10, 2025
Cora didn’t mince words, and neither did Red Sox fans. The decision came moments after Boston reliever Zack Kelly had walked in the go-ahead run on a similarly questionable call to Rays’ prospect Junior Caminero. The inconsistencies on both sides of the inning turned an already tense game into a lightning rod for criticism.
Fans React to the Ejection; Will ABS Come Next Year?
Social media exploded in the aftermath. Fans torched Valentine’s performance. “Ump deserves to be booted from the bigs immediately,” one user posted, echoing the sentiments of a fanbase that felt robbed. Another said, “This was terrible. Especially after he didn’t give it to Kelly. Neither are strikes.” Some even critiqued Cora’s reaction: “Soft ejection. I need him sprinting out there and getting in the ump’s face.”
Beyond the theatrics, the incident has reignited a growing conversation around the need for change in how MLB handles balls and strikes. Umpiring accountability, or the lack thereof, remains a sticking point for many fans, and this game was a perfect storm. “Umps need to be held accountable if there’s no challenge system,” one user said, pointing to the larger issue: without a way to challenge bad calls, managers and players are left powerless, and outcomes can feel unjust.
The Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system is already being tested by the league in the minor leagues, and there are increasing calls for its use in the top leagues. The game on Monday night may have only fueled the flames. The tech-driven solution’s proponents contend that it’s time to embrace the future and get rid of human mistake, which still ruins important moments.
The loss was difficult for Boston to accept. However, the long-term harm done to public confidence in umpiring and the growing push to use robot umps during games might be MLB’s biggest issue.