Red Sox manager Alex Cora is coming to Yankee Stadium for the first time since the Astros cheating scandal
Red Sox manager Alex Cora signals to the home plate umpire after being ejected from the game against the Twins during the eighth inning at Target Field on April 15 in Minneapolis. Credit: Getty Images/Hannah Foslien
As if the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry needed any more juice, Friday’s season series opener at Yankee Stadium is the first visit to the Bronx for Boston manager Alex Cora, who was suspended for the 2020 season for his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal when he was the bench coach in Houston.
"Having him back in the dugout obviously makes me want to beat them more," Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said with a smile on Thursday. "No, listen, we don’t like those guys, they don’t like us."
Gardner later clarified that "I was halfway joking" about his first Cora comment.
"Obviously, he had a lot of success over in Houston and led the Red Sox to the World Series a couple years ago and they’re playing well again this year," Gardner said. "It’ll be a good battle. It’ll be fun."
Yankees fans can be expected to give it to Cora whenever they can. Four weeks after the Astros visited, fans in the Bronx still break out in a derogatory chant about Houston second baseman Jose Altuve during every game.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he is glad Cora is back in the dugout.
"I think he’s really good at what he does," Boone said. "I know he paid a significant price, but he’s one of the really good managers out there."
King for a day
Boone announced after Thursday’s 9-2 loss to Tampa Bay that Michael King will start on Friday against former Yankee Nathan Eovaldi.
King made his first start of the season on Sunday. He went 2 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (two earned) in a 6-2 loss at Detroit. Overall, the righthander is 0-2 with a 2.86 ERA in eight appearances.
‘Optimism" for Kluber
Boone said Corey Kluber’s second opinion on his shoulder strain has led to "some optimism." Kluber has been out since May 25, when he left a start after three innings. In his previous outing, Kluber threw a no-hitter.
"It was recommended he start throwing sooner rather than later," Boone said. "Hopefully that is a good sign."
Boone, though, said the apparent good news doesn’t change the timetable for Kluber’s return, which is still expected to be late July at the earliest.
Extra bases
The location of Luis Severino’s first rehab start on Sunday has been decided. It will be Tampa. Boone said Severino’s next outing could come in Brooklyn for the Yankees’ Hudson Valley affiliate . . . Zack Britton (elbow surgery) felt good after his second rehab outing, Boone said, and will pitch again for Double-A Somerset on Saturday . . . Luke Voit (oblique strain) has started doing baseball activities . . . Giancarlo Stanton did not start for the second time in three days. Boone said Stanton, who returned last Friday from the injured list, may play in all three games this weekend.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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