The Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox have played a clean series at Fenway Park, but the two sides got into a minor kerfuffle before the series finale on June 4.
A few hours before the 1:35 p.m. first pitch, Red Sox first base coach Jose Flores and Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson exchanged words by Fenway's third base line. A report from Rob Bradford of WEEI stated that multiple Red Sox players approached the conflict, and videos show that Angels coaches joined the fray, as well.
After the first base coach and pitcher exchanged words, Anderson was seen speaking with Boston manager Alex Cora in the outfield in a much calmer manner. There has been no reporting on the context of the tiff, which, fortunately, remained verbal.
NESN posted a video of the exchange, including clips of Anderson and Flores' heated discussion and Anderson's later conversation with Cora, which has since been deleted. The "Section 10" podcast saved and reposted the video.
Red Sox first base coach Jose Flores and Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson get into tiff before June 4 series finale at Fenway Park
Anderson started for the Angels in Monday's season opener, and Boston wouldn't see him again for the remainder of the series. The Red Sox mustered five runs against him, but their two losses to open the series have been frustrating, one-run affairs.
Cora was visibly discontented in his postgame press conference after Boston's June 3 loss, and tensions are clearly boiling over throughout the program. Regardless, there's hardly any good reason for an altercation during warm-ups, especially when the Red Sox should be focused on winning baseball games.
Cora had already completed his pregame media availability before the dust-up between his team and the Angels, so it may be a few hours before any news on the nature of the altercation is reported. The Red Sox should channel their frustrations into their play on the field rather than their conduct before games. Best-case scenario, the argument is a catalyst to help the team stave off a sweep at the hands of another losing club.