Bruce Bochy Fires Up Texas Rangers With Ejection Against Red Sox

Bruce Bochy felt something needed to be done to snap the Texas Rangers out of their doldrums.

The manager can’t hit. Or pitch. But he can certainly yell and cause a ruckus.

Bochy did so from the dugout and eventually on the field, getting ejected in the process Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox. The seventh-inning tirade worked, as the Rangers rallied for a 6-4 victory that snapped a four-game losing streak.

“Whenever a manager shows emotion like that, he really, truly backs the players and shows you what he’s all about,” Jonah Heim said. “Obviously, when a manager has your back, it’s a lot easier to go out there and give everything that you’ve got.”

Hear Bruce Bochy's thoughts on his ejection from tonight's game
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/fa5m0n4HdQ
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) September 20, 2023

The ejection came a day after Bochy questioned whether all his players were “locked in” at the plate in the 4-2 loss to Boston.

Bochy was arguing the balls and strikes Tuesday, which came to a head with reliever Andrew Heaney on the mound in the seventh. The Red Sox would score in the inning to tie the game 4-4.

Bochy was also unhappy with some calls from home plate Ben May in the previous inning.

“Frustration sure, but, hey, it’s part of the game,” Bochy said.

Bochy joked after the game with his staff that he needed “to leave the dugout a little bit more,” but at that moment, it was no laughing matter. Heaney departed with just one out, and runners at second and third.

Another hit and perhaps the Rangers are on a five-game skid. Aroldis Chapman, making his first appearance in a week, struck out Rafael Devers and coaxed a groundout from Justin Turner to end the threat.

Texas scored twice in the bottom of the frame. Bochy’s made his point.

“It’s just one of those moments,” he said. “That’s my job.”

But it’s more than that for the players. They appreciated seeing the fire from Bochy, especially at the critical point in the game and the season with a postseason spot at stake.

“Trying to spark something,” Josh Jung said. “Trying to change something up. Maybe that’s what we needed to start rolling.”

The Rangers (83-68) look for the series win Wednesday, with a 1:05 first pitch at Globe Life Field. Jon Gray (8-8, 4.05) goes for Texas opposite Brayan Bello (12-9, 3.71).

You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.