RON ROENICKE

The Boston Red Sox have picked up Alex Cora’s option for two more seasons.

In this still image from an online video news conference provided by the Boston Red Sox, manager Alex Cora speaks Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, at Fenway Park in Boston. (Boston Red Sox via AP)BOSTON – Alex Cora wants to make one thing clear — he deserved to have his dream job as manager of the Boston Red Sox taken away earlier this year. Cora was introduced as the new Red Sox manager on Tuesday, just 10 days after his one-season suspension for his role in the Astros' sign-stealing scheme during their 2017 championship run came to an end. Cora was Houston’s bench coach prior to being hired by the Red Sox in November 2017, and promptly led Boston to the 2018 championship after a franchise-record 108 regular-season wins. “I have a pretty good idea of how they feel about Alex,” Bloom said.

Cora was Houston's bench coach when he joined the Red Sox in November 2017, and he led Boston to the 2018 title after a franchise-record 108 regular-season wins. “Alex knows that what he did was wrong, and he regrets it," Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom said. “During his Red Sox career as a player and manager, Alex continually made us better," team president and CEO Sam Kennedy said. With Betts and Price gone, Chris Sale recovering from Tommy John surgery and Eduardo Rodriguez recovering from a COVID-19-related heart problem, the Red Sox went 24-36. And the Red Sox have plenty of salary flexibility gained in the deal that jettioned Betts and Price.

Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder Manuel Margot (sore foot) was scratched from the lineup. Acuña was scratched Sunday with renewed irritation in his left wrist. Because of the reworked schedule caused by the virus outbreak, the Yankees didn’t play in Cleveland this year.

Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game to earn a playoff birth Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Louis. That’s when the Brewers, at 29-31, open their series against Los Angeles ace Walker Buehler at Dodger Stadium. In a win-and-you’re-in game, St. Louis clinched by beating Milwaukee 5-2. That’s how you see it,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. St. Louis played a total of 58 games — it was prepared for a doubleheader in Detroit on Monday if needed to settle the playoff picture.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola, file)ATLANTA – Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke will not return in 2021, the team said before its final game on Sunday, ending his tenure as a one-year, shotgun stopgap for a pandemic-shortened season with a last-place finish in the AL East. With Cora gone, the Red Sox promoted Roenicke from bench coach to interim manager. They removed the temporary tag in April, during the coronavirus shutdown, when Roenicke was cleared in the commissioner’s investigation into sign-stealing by the Red Sox during their championship season. He was 23-36 with the Red Sox entering Sunday's games. Cora left Houston to become Boston’s manager after the 2017 season and led the Red Sox to a franchise-record 108 regular-season wins and the World Series title.

Boston Red Sox's Tanner Houck delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)BOSTON – Despite dismal results against the New York Yankees this season, at least the Boston Red Sox didn’t have to watch their longtime rivals enjoy clinching a playoff berth at Fenway Park. New York had matched its longest winning streak against the Red Sox, also winning 12 in a row in 1936 and from 1952-53 when Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams was flying combat missions in the Korean War. Red Sox: Off on Monday before beginning their final home series, a three-game set that starts Tuesday against Baltimore. RHP Nick Pivetta, acquired in a trade with the Phillies last month, will make his Red Sox debut.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer delivers against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Baltimore, Md. Kremer limited the Yankees to one hit, struck out seven and retired 14 of his final 15 batters. NAILEDRookie right-hander Spencer Howard will replace Zack Wheeler as the Phillies’ starter in Game 4 of their seven-game series at Miami. Wheeler ripped a fingernail putting on his pants Wednesday, delaying his next start until at least Monday and perhaps longer. While some teams have started a lineup in which all batters hit from the left side the first time up, all previous occasions since 1901 included at least one switch-hitter.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tampa Bay Rays became the first major league team since at least 1901 to start a batting order with all left-handed batters. Rays manager Kevin Cash stacked his lineup with lefties on Friday night against Boston Red Sox right-hander Andrew Triggs. Triggs was making just his second start for the Red Sox, who claimed him off waivers from San Francisco on Aug. 19. We’ve added a couple of left-handed hitters,” Cash said. “Thinking about it last night after the game, we don’t know their pitcher very well, Triggs.

Duvall hit a pair of two-run shots over the Green Monster and a solo blast to center for his five RBIs. Duvall and Ozuna were the first teammates with three-homer performances in back-to-back games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Martinez had two hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who fell a season-high 13 games under .500. Fenway was built in 1912, but the Red Sox are an AL club and interleague play wasnt introduced in MLB until 1997. The Braves tied it at 3 in the second when Duvall hit his first homer, and Ozuna added an RBI single.

Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe, right, and Willy Adames celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox during a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Boston. The Red Sox (6-13), who own the ALs worst record, have lost four straight. Rays starter Tyler Glasnow went four innings, giving up five runs on eight hits, striking out eight and walking two. Red Sox: SS Xander Bogaerts had the day off. Red Sox: Roenicke said itll be a bullpen game in the opener of a four-game series against the Yankees in New York on Friday.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge follows through on an eighth-inning, two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, at Yankee Stadium in New York. Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki is at right. Tell that to his teammates or the Boston Red Sox. Rafael Devers put the Red Sox ahead 7-6 with a titanic drive of his own to right-center in the seventh. Anytime you lose a game like this is tough," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said.

New York Yankees relief pitcher Nick Nelson throws in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, in New York. He had pitched three hitless innings for his major league debut in the New York Yankees' 5-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night. Thats as good a velocity as weve seen on his fastball really in the last couple of years, Boone said. I dont think he pitched as bad as what the score was," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. ... Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi was back in the lineup after a night off.

Baltimore Orioles' Alex Cobb pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)BOSTON Anthony Santander and Renato Nez each drove in two runs and the Baltimore Orioles held off the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Saturday to even their season-opening series. Prez (0-1) lasted just five innings in his Red Sox debut, giving up five runs on six hits and walking two. The Red Sox were just 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 runners on base. Red Sox: Right-hander Ryan Weber made his first opening day roster this season after beginning the last four in Triple-A.

BOSTON Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez will be shut down from all baseball activities for at least a week after he experienced a setback in his return from COVID-19. Manager Ron Roenicke said Thursday that Rodriguez, who tested positive for the coronavirus before the start of summer camp, hasnt had another positive test. But he didnt arrive in Boston for summer camp until Saturday, leaving him well behind in his throwing program for the start of the season. In his first public comments at camp, Rodriguez said Sunday that his bout with the coronavirus had left him feeling 100 years old. It took him about 10 days before he was able to do any light throwing. Though there isnt a timeline for Rodriguez's return, Roenicke said he is confident the lefty will pitch again this season.

San Diego announced last week that outfielder Tommy Pham tested positive for coronavirus and was asymptomatic. The Giants, meanwhile, resumed workouts at Oracle Park after receiving test results from Saturday, all of which were negative for players and staff. The only Texas players still not cleared to participate are right fielder Joey Gallo and left-hander Brett Martin, both of whom tested positive for coronavirus. Also, Indians outfielder Delino DeShields Jr., who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, is traveling to Cleveland after he had one negative test. Theres nothing that we can do about it.The Cubs have thus far avoided any positive tests, a development outfielder Kyle Schwarber insists cannot be attributed to mere luck.

The San Francisco Giants suspended workouts at Oracle Park as they awaited the results of weekend tests for the coronavirus. Rodriguez, who broke out in 2019 as a star, and Red Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec tested positive for the virus. Manager Ron Roenicke said it is just unfortunate the positive test could jeopardize Rodriguezs chances to start on opening day. Also, the Kansas City Royals announced right-hander Brad Keller and first baseman Ryan OHearn had positive tests and gave the team permission to announce the results. Some Washington players did not take part in workouts, including Starlin Castro, Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Victor Robles.

PHOENIX The Minnesota Twins have shuffled their on-field staff to protect the health of some of their older coaches. I think we all know that we're making the right decision, but that doesn't mean it feels good," Baldelli said. The defending World Series champion Nationals will begin their title defense without Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross, who both declined to play because of health concerns. We are one hundred percent supportive of their decision to not play this year, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said in a statement. Cleveland's 61-year-old manager Terry Francona said he's not nervous, even though he's had previous health issues.