Jorge Alcala's August 4 performance against the Kansas City Royals was the final straw for the Boston Red Sox reliever who had been in the hot seat.
Alcala came into the game in the eighth inning with a score of 7-1 in the Boston Red Sox's favor. He immediately let up a solo home run to Vinnie Pasquantino, then another to Maikel Garcia before he collected an out. Mike Yastrzemski got to him for a double (he ended up on third due to a Jarren Duran misplay), and Alex Cora couldn't wait any longer. He pulled Alcala to use Justin Wilson, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman in a game Boston could've won by a landslide.