He went from coach to player.
In a wild scene Wednesday, Boston Red Sox interim third base coach Chad Epperson went into the field of play to wave home Wilyer Abreu.
Epperson ran over the foul line, just feet from Baltimore Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo, to indicate to Abreu he should head home and actually wasn’t far from making contact with Mayo.
Abreu was rounding the bases after Willson Contreras smacked a double to left field in the first inning.
While he was initially deemed safe, Abreu was ruled out after a video review.
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said the umpiring crew told both teams that if it happened again, Epperson would be ejected.
“Base coaches must remain within the coach’s box consistent with this Rule, except that a coach who has a play at his base may leave the coach’s box to signal the player to slide, advance or return to a base if the coach does not interfere with the play in any manner,” MLB Official Baseball Rule 5.03 states.
Epperson was hired as the interim third base coach after the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and four other staff members following a 10-17 start to the season.
He was formerly with the Portland Sea Dogs, the Red Sox’s AA minor league affiliate. Epperson is the winningest manager in Sea Dogs history.
Following the bizarre incident, the Red Sox went on to win 8-1.
Abreu led the way on offense, going 2-for-5, including a two-run home run.
Payton Tolle also pitched six scoreless innings before Ryan Watson came in to finish out the game.
Since moving on from Cora, the Red Sox are 16-17 but still in last place in the AL East.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
