Cora ejected during animated argument in Game 1 of twin bill

BOSTON -- Alex Cora sure got his money's worth.

The Red Sox manager was ejected just three batters into Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Twins at Fenway Park -- and delivered an extremely animated protest in the process. Boston went on to an 8-1 win behind three homers from Triston Casas.

Cora came out to argue in the top of the first inning after an obstruction call on Vaughn Grissom at second base during a pickoff attempt by Boston starter Nick Pivetta.

It appeared to be an ordinary pickoff throw, with Twins baserunner Byron Buxton scampering back safely as Pivetta wheeled and threw to Grissom at the bag. But after the Twins protested that Grissom was blocking the base, the umpiring crew decided to convene and ultimately ruled that Grissom had indeed blocked Buxton's path back to second base, and awarded Buxton third base.

Cora emerged from the dugout to argue the call with second-base umpire Dan Merzel and crew chief Alan Porter, and was ejected by Porter. That sparked a dramatic demonstration by the Boston skipper, who said after the game that the umpires got the call right. He just wanted Merzel to make the call as he saw the play happen in front of him at second base.

"He blocked the bag. He did. But the whole mechanism, I didn't like," Cora said. "It took [the Twins] arguing, and then Alan called, 'Time,' to get together, and they got the call right. But you're right there. Just call it. It's a lot easier that way, and I took exception -- and I got thrown out."

Cora sprinted out to second base from the center of the infield, repeatedly pointing with both hands to his own eyes and then down to the second-base bag. Then, Cora turned back to Merzel to continue his tirade, and had to be held back by Porter.

And finally, Cora went back to second base one more time, pointing emphatically to the base again and dropping his knee down to the dirt as if he were an infielder blocking the bag himself.