The Red Sox have a long day of baseball planned with Sunday’s doubleheader, but manager Alex Cora will spend at least the first half of the proceedings consigned to the clubhouse.

Cora was ejected for arguing with the umpires in the first inning of Game 1, flying into a fit of rage after Vaughn Grissom was called for interference on a pickoff attempt at second base.

Alex Cora was NOT happy with a call getting changed after Rocco Baldelli’s pleading pic.twitter.com/T8vaBnSiIC

— NESN (@NESN) September 22, 2024

With Minnesota’s Byron Buxton taking his lead, starting pitcher Nick Pivetta stepped off and threw to Grissom, who was straddling the bag as Buxton hustled back safely. The umpires then convened and ruled that Grissom had blocked Buxton’s path, awarding the Twins outfielder third base.

That prompted an angry response from Cora, who was as frustrated as he’s been all season long.

Cora confronted second base umpire Dan Merzel, and after being tossed from the game he stormed over to second base and began gesturing at the bag. He then had to be restrained by crew chief Alan Porter before eventually leaving the field to a standing ovation from the Fenway Park crowd.

Cora’s actions will most likely draw scrutiny and potential discipline from the league office, but barring any unforeseen circumstances he will be back to manage the second game of the doubleheader later Sunday afternoon.

The play ultimately proved inconsequential. Grissom was charged with an error for the interference but Pivetta escaped an eventual bases-loaded jam unscathed.