The Red Sox’s beleaguered starting rotation was expected to receive a lift on Tuesday after veteran righty Walker Buehler was activated off of the 15-day IL.
But Boston’s starter for Tuesday’s home game against the Mets didn’t even make it out of the third inning.
Granted, Buehler’s early hook had nothing to do with his performance on the mound.
In a brutal sequence for the Red Sox, both Buehler and manager Alex Cora were ejected by home-plate umpire Mike Estabrook after arguing balls and strikes.
With one out in the third inning and Juan Soto up at the plate for New York, Buehler’s second pitch of the at-bat looked like a clear strike — but it was ruled a ball after catcher Carlos Narváez quickly popped up to try and throw out Francisco Lindor, who was trying to steal second.