Alex Cora Hints Red Sox Tried to Hit Yankees' Aaron Judge After Cole Hit Devers

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora alluded to pitcher Brayan Bello purposely throwing at New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

After Yankees starter Gerrit Cole hit Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers during Boston's 7-1 win on Saturday, Bello threw a sinker behind Judge's back in the sixth inning.

"It was closed yesterday around the sixth inning," Cora said when asked if the incident was closed, per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. "We had our chance. It didn't happen and we have to move on."

The Red Sox skipper told reporters that he believed Cole intentionally hit Devers after the game.

"I felt like the first at-bat he hit him on purpose," Cora said, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "He doesn't want to face him. That's the bottom line. He told us with the intentional walk that the first at-bat he hit him."

Cora's belief stemmed from the fact that Cole intentionally walked Devers with the bases empty and one out during his next at-bat in the fourth inning.

Devers has historically excelled with Cole on the mound, hitting eight home runs and 20 RBIs to go along with an impressive .350/.435/.975 slash line in 46 career plate appearances against him. It's worth noting that the 2023 Cy Young Award winner faced him once again on Saturday, leading to the three-time All-Star hitting an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning.

Cora said that he spoke with Judge after the game, calling it a "professional" discussion (via Kirschner).

Yankees manager Aaron Boone responded to his comments, believing that Cora was attempting to fire up a team that's in the midst of the American League postseason race. Entering Sunday's action, Boston currently sits 3.5 games back from the final AL wild card spot.

"First of all, I would say Gerrit was not throwing at him," Boone said, per Ian Browne of MLB.com. "I have a lot of respect for Alex and think he's great at what he does. I think it's also a manager that's using that moment a little bit to rally his troops a little bit as they're fighting for their playoff lives."

The Yankees and Red Sox are finishing up their four-game series on Sunday, with New York taking two of the first three matchups.