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Alex Cora jokes about former Red Sox player’s ‘25 foot’ bat flip in WBC
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- Alex Cora jokes about former Red Sox player’s ‘25 foot’ bat flip in WBC
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Manager Alex Cora joked about one of his former players when asked about Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu ’s bat flip in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.
Abreu held his bat for a few seconds before tossing it high in the air after his three-run home run in the sixth inning to put Venezuela ahead 7-5 over defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals.
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Cora was asked if it is one of the best bat flips he’s ever seen.
“I saw Christian (Vázquez’s) yesterday too, on a single to right field and that bat went like 25 feet,” Cora joked.
Vázquez, who played for Boston from 2014-22, had an epic bat flip of his own when his two-run single in the eighth inning cut Puerto Rico’s deficit to 8-6 against Italy in another quarterfinal game. Italy won by that same score.
Cora’s reaction to Abreu’s bat flip and the emotion he showed running the bases was enthusiastic.
“Just electric,” Cora said. “It’s fun to see them react that way. It’s Little League, right, with big leaguers.”
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Venezuela went on to win 8-5, advancing to the semifinals against Italy on Monday at 8 p.m.
“When you play that tournament, it’s different,” Cora said. “I mean, it’s 45,000 Venezuelans there. It’s like Magallanes-Caracas (two Venezuelan teams) in Miami , and they’re not going against each other — it’s everybody together. So from the horns to the drums to the chants, it’s electric. And they beat the defending champs. And good job by them.”
Cora also expressed happiness for Venezuelan manager Omar López.
“I know he’s taken a lot of heat because of the lineups and what happened in the last one,” Cora said. “And for them to be in this position, it’s super cool.”
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Cora can’t wait for tonight’s semifinal game between the United States and Dominican Republic.
“There’s more coming because the way it’s lining up tonight is going to be sensational,” Cora said. “Tomorrow is going to be great. Italy is playing outstanding. And then the finals, obviously, we’ll see what happens. But tonight, I cannot wait to watch that game because I think for how quote-unquote polite Team USA is, there’s going to be a lot of emotions tonight, I can guarantee you that.”
Weissert records five outs
Red Sox reliever Greg Weissert earned the save in Italy’s 8-6 win over Puerto Rico on Saturday.
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He recorded the final five outs without allowing a run. He struck out two and threw 28 pitches.
Italy checked in with the Red Sox before the game to ask if they could use Weissert more than an inning. Weissert now has pitched in three games (3 ⅓ innings) for Italy and his workload is being monitored. The Red Sox don’t want him worn down for the regular season, which is less than two weeks away.
“A few phone calls,” Cora said.
The Red Sox gave permission to Italy.
Cora said he texted congratulations to both Weissert and Italy pitcher Adam Ottavino , who pitched for the Red Sox in 2021.
Ottavino texted Cora back that the Red Sox “have a good one” in Weissert.
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“I’m like, ‘I know,’” Cora said. “He’s been really good. Efficient, too, which is the most important thing.”
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