Projo Sox Blog

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Boston manager Terry Francona was more than a little red-faced during the fifth inning of Friday night's game.

Francona bolted out of the dugout, ready to protest an "out" call of Dustin Pedroia at second base when Pedroia tried to stretch a base hit into a double.

Much to his chagrin, Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen also had bolted onto the field to protest the call because, contrary to what Francona thought he had seen, second-base umpire Derryl Cousins actually had called Pedroia safe.

It may have been the first time in history that two managers were on the field at the same time, ready to argue the same call.

Pedroia's actions prompted Francona to think he had been called out. Pedroia got up and threw his hands in the air, but he did so out of satisfaction at having eluded a tag and not out of irritation with the umpire. Not surprisingly, the Red Sox got all over Francona for his mistake.

"I haven't been that embarrassed in years," said Francona this morning. "I wanted to walk right through the Monster and disappear. I knew what was coming when I got back to the dugout. Kevin Cash was screaming, "Lay off the Red Bull." Millsy (Bench coach Brad Mills) was crushing me.

"I saw Pedey throw his hands in the air so I put my head down and went out there and when I looked up I saw Ozzi out there. Why is he helping me? I didn't know what to do. Pedey said, "Get out of here," said Francona.

 Tags  dustin pedroia ozzie guillen terry francona

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