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BOSTON — Red Sox right-hander Walker Buehler, activated earlier in the day from the 15-day injured list, was ejected from his Tuesday start against the New York Mets in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes.

After two balls to open up an at-bat by Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor stole second safely. Following Lindor’s slide, Buehler approached plate umpire Mike Estabrook, while yelling and pointing his finger. Buehler was quickly ejected, and moments later, Boston manager Alex Cora also was ejected.

It was the second consecutive game that the Red Sox played without Cora. On Monday, he missed the series opener to attend his daughter’s graduation at Boston College. Cora was replaced both nights by bench coach Ramon Vazquez.

Cora shouted in Estabrook’s face for a while, and first-base umpire Laz Diaz eventually stepped in to keep the two apart. Cora made contact with Diaz while continuing to verbally let loose on Estabrook. The manager then finally made his way to the clubhouse to cheers from Boston fans.

“It was weird; they were going back and forth,” Cora said of the exchange between Buehler and Estabrook. “I don’t know what the exchange was, but I’ve been at this for a few years, and I was just begging, ‘Just give me a break. I’ll go out and you can throw me out, and we can keep the pitcher in the game.’ But I guess he had enough. I don’t know why.”

Brennan Bernardino replaced Buehler and inherited the count on Soto. Bernardino proceeded to walk Soto on four pitches in a scoreless game. But the bullpen held up the rest of the way, and Vazquez steered the Red Sox to a 2-0 victory.

“Everybody saw what happened. That’s baseball; we just had to stick to the plan,” Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez said on the postgame show on NESN.

Buehler had not pitched for the Red Sox since April 26 because of right shoulder issues. He was scratched from his next start, and ensuing tests revealed he had bursitis in the shoulder.

Buehler, 30, pitched a three-inning simulated game Thursday and indicated he fared well and was ready to return.

Although this outing was short, Buehler has now started seven games during his first season with the Red Sox. He entered Tuesday’s game at 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA and 29 strikeouts against nine walks in 33⅔ innings.

“The pitch was in the strike zone,” Narvaez said of the ball call that ignited Buehler’s situation in the third. “He was fighting with the guy behind the plate. He was saying, ‘Hey, that was in the middle.’ And the guy was saying, ‘No.’ And it was back and forth. Buehler is an emotional guy, he’s a competitor. It was just the emotions of the game.”

Boston optioned right-hander Nick Burdi to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. The 32-year-old made two appearances and pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings for Boston.

A member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization until signing with Boston as a free agent in December, Buehler has undergone two Tommy John surgeries during his career, and the latter one in 2022 caused him to sit out the 2023 season and make his 2024 debut that May.

Buehler last made it through a full season without issue in 2021, when he registered a career-high 33 starts to lead the major leagues that season. He went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA in 2021 and was selected to the All-Star Game for a second time. The Dodgers selected Buehler with the 24th pick of the 2015 MLB draft.

Information from Field Level Media and the Associated Press was used in this report.

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.

“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”

Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.

The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.

Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.

“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”

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‘Gritty’ McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

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'Gritty' McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.

McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.

“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”

McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.

“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.

McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.

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‘Workhorse’ York nets five-year deal from Flyers

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'Workhorse' York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.

York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.

“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”

The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.

York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.

“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”

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