The Boston Red Sox barely had a chance to enjoy a big day of success on the field before there was an overhaul of the coaching staff.
They’ll go into Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the host Baltimore Orioles with Chad Tracy as interim manager after the firing of Alex Cora was revealed hours after Saturday’s game.
Several of Cora’s staff members were also let go, so the positivity from a 17-1 whipping of the Orioles on Saturday probably has been dashed in the visiting clubhouse. Tracy has been managing Boston’s top affiliate, Triple-A Worcester, since 2022.
Lopsided results have defined the first two games of the series between the Red Sox and Orioles.
The Red Sox lost 10-3 in Friday night’s series opener. Cora noted the encouraging turnaround in comments following Saturday’s result.
“That happened (Friday) night and then we showed up (Saturday),” Cora said. “We did a lot of good things. We still have to be better in certain areas.”
The Red Sox were the second-to-last team in the American League to reach the 10-win mark this season, so perhaps that led to Cora’s dismissal. Boston is 10-17.
“We’ve got a chance to win the series (Sunday). That’s the most important thing,” Cora said prior to the firing being announced. “I keep saying get to .500. … You win series and you keep moving and we have a chance to do that.”
Aside from Cora, at least five other members of the coaching staff won’t be on hand for Sunday’s game.
Meanwhile, Baltimore had a two-game winning streak snapped.
“Any loss is tough,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “I wouldn’t say it’s any more tough. It’s a loss. And then, you move on, we play (Sunday). We have a chance to come out and win the series.”
Boston will send left-hander Connelly Early (1-1, 2.88 ERA) to the mound. He’s coming off his lone loss Tuesday against the New York Yankees, though he has been consistent in multiple ways. He has recorded 24 strikeouts in 25 innings this season while walking multiple batters in each of his five outings.
In Early’s three road assignments, he has given up one run in each game. He’ll be facing the Orioles for the first time.
Baltimore will call on right-hander Kyle Bradish (1-2, 3.96), who also has worked 25 innings this season. He has posted 28 strikeouts and he also has dealt with control snags, issuing three walks in four of his outings.
Bradish dodged trouble in Monday’s no-decision at Kansas City, where he allowed 10 hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Bradish faced Boston last August in his first game back following 2024 surgery, giving up two runs in six innings while taking the loss. Overall, he’s 1-5 with a 6.92 ERA versus the Red Sox.
The Orioles used left-hander Keegan Akin on Saturday for his 2026 debut after he was activated from the injured list. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning before failing to record an out in the ninth and charged with six runs.
Still, Akin’s availability in the big picture could be a positive for Baltimore.
“He’s a guy that we were counting on coming into the season and him going down there in spring training was tough,” Albernaz said. “But the rest of the guys in the bullpen stepped up, so now adding Akin, it definitely raises the floor of our ‘pen.”
Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill made his first game appearance since April 8 by going 1-for-4 and scoring a run in Saturday’s game. He had been on the concussion injury list.
He was thrilled to be back in action, though the result wasn’t favorable.
“It sucks to be on the losing side, but we know what this offense is capable of,” O’Neill said.
–Field Level Media
