Andrew Benintendi and Alex Cora get ejected, a breakdown

In the bottom of the fifth inning at Fenway Park, tensions boil over between the Boston Red Sox and the home plate umpire, Angel Hernandez. Boston outfielder Andrew Benintendi steps to the plate, clearly displeased with a called strike from Hernandez. Benintendi turns around and angrily says, "God damn you, you f***ing suck," but Hernandez is quick to eject him from the game, citing Benintendi's lack of "class" in criticizing the umpire. Red Sox manager Alex Cora rushes out of the dugout to defend his player, unloading on Hernandez about several calls he believes the umpire has gotten wrong throughout the game. Cora argues passionately, getting in Hernandez's face and gesturing emphatically as he lists the umpire's perceived mistakes. Hernandez then ejects Cora as well, leading to an even more heated confrontation between the manager and the umpire. As Benintendi heads to the clubhouse, he turns back and shouts one more parting shot at Hernandez, yelling, "You f***ing suck, you're f***ing trash!" The ejections of Benintendi and Cora leave the Red Sox without two of their key figures, with the team trailing in the game at Fenway Park. The incident speaks to the long-standing tensions between players, managers and umpires, particularly when it comes to Angel Hernandez, who has developed a reputation for contentious calls and confrontations over the years. Benintendi and Cora clearly felt that Hernandez's strike zone and handling of the game had been unfair, leading to the emotional outbursts that resulted in their ejections. The stakes are high for the Red Sox, who are fighting to stay in playoff contention in the American League East. The team can ill afford to lose their starting outfielder and manager, especially in a close game at their home ballpark. As Benintendi and Cora head to the clubhouse, the Red Sox must regroup and find a way to overcome the adversity created by the dual ejections and continue their push towards the postseason.