When your team is struggling and your record is hanging in the balance, skipping a game usually isn’t on the agenda—unless you’re Alex Cora. The Boston Red Sox manager, known for his competitive spirit and championship pedigree, made headlines not for a tactical move or lineup change, but for choosing a truly unbeatable reason to step away from the dugout.

Be it a player or a manager, when they have to pick between the game and their family, they might always choose family, and well, they should! There is nothing more important than family, not even a Boston Red Sox game, and when it comes to your daughter, as a father, you gotta be there. That is exactly what Alex Cora did when an important day for his daughter arrived.

In a recent post on Instagram, Alex Cora congratulated his daughter, Camila Cora, for graduating from college. He wrote, “#FamiliaEsFamilia, no need to elaborate. Proud of your accomplishments @camilaacora. Without you, none of what we live is possible. You inspire us, make us better. We love you! This is just the beginning 😉”

A guy who led the Boston Red Sox to the World Series in 2018 missed the game on Monday as he attended his daughter’s graduation. He also said during an interview that it is a very special day and that he was never going to miss it and would choose this over any game, any day.

And while Alex Cora was away being a part of Camila’s achievements, the Red Sox were enjoying their outing with the Mets.

The Red Sox went off straight away with a 2-run first inning. They followed it up with a run in the second inning and did not score any further. While the bats went silent, their pitchers started to handle business. After earning a run in the 3rd inning, the Red Sox pitchers allowed just 3 hits for the rest of the game.

While the Red Sox’s bats went quiet after an early spark, it was clear who really hit a home run on Monday—Alex Cora’s commitment to family over baseball. In a sport where every game feels like a playoff, sometimes the biggest win isn’t on the scoreboard. After all, not every hero wears a jersey; some just show up where it truly counts.

And did you know who took care of the on-field business when Cora was out?

Ramon Vazquez led the Red Sox from the soul in the absence of Alex Cora

Some nights remind you that baseball isn’t just about numbers, lineups, or who’s trending on Statcast. It’s about nerve, nuance, and knowing when not to blink. While the Red Sox wrestle with chaos disguised as a season, someone unexpected brought calm to the storm, not with bravado, but with backbone. That’s Ramon Vazquez. And on the night, the Red Sox didn’t just play—they listened.

Ramon Vazquez stepped up when the Red Sox needed more than just a placeholder. With rookie Hunter Dobbins exiting early, he calmly pieced together a struggling bullpen. The game flowed with rare crispness—clean defense, timely execution. “It’s just another day for me at work,” Vazquez shared, smiling pregame.

That calm translated into confident choices. He managed matchups smartly, kept relievers fresh, and never overreached. Every pitching change felt timely, not desperate. The players responded with sharp focus and respect. Postgame, a spontaneous beverage shower erupted—earned, not given. Vazquez didn’t just fill in; he quietly owned the night.

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So, maybe the Sox don’t just need stars—they need stability with a pulse. Ramon Vazquez didn’t scream strategy; he whispered clarity into a dugout that’s often deaf to direction. One night doesn’t crown a king, but it sure exposes the court.