Red Sox starter Walker Buehler and manager Alex Cora were ejected from Tuesday night’s game with one out in the top of the third.

Buehler was in the early stages of a no-hitter bid, when he plunked Francisco Lindor to put the New York Mets leadoff man on first. Lindor then successfully stole second while Buehler threw his second pitch to Juan Soto. The 89.9 mph cutter was clearly well within the strike zone, but home-plate umpire Mike Estabrook ruled it a ball.

Within a span of barely 15 seconds, Buehler began arguing the call and walking toward home plate. He shouted “WHAT?” followed by, “It’s right down the (expletive) middle!” as catcher Carlos Narváez ran over to hold him back. Estabrook, who’d immediately removed his mask and begun striding toward them as well, dramatically ejected the right-hander.

After being rung, Buehler shouted, “(Expletive) you,” and stalked to the dugout.

Estabrook then had to contend with Cora, who told him, “Wait for me, wait for me,” as he hadn’t even been out of the dugout before the umpire had tossed Buehler.

The conversation quickly grew heated, and crew chief Laz Diaz had to hold the Sox skipper back and lead him away from Estabrook.

“When the mask comes off, you’re very confrontational,” assessed former Red Sox player and current broadcaster Lou Merloni. “When the mask comes off and you’re aggressively coming at him, it’s very combative. You’re escalating it.”

It was Buehler’s second career ejection. The first also came against the Mets on Aug. 20, 2021, back when the righty was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cora has now been ejected 18 times since his managerial career began on Opening Day 2018. It’s his first ejection of the season. (Last was Sept. 22, 2024.)

Thus, for the second night in a row, bench coach Ramon Vázquez stepped in to fill the manager’s shoes. He helmed Monday’s series opener, as Cora was at his daughter’s college graduation.