Cora asks E-Rod to be accountable: ‘Bust your ass'

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NEW YORK — The seventh inning that effectively put away Game 2 of the American League Division Series for the Yankees began with a mental mistake from lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. 

Aaron Judge hit a grounder to the right side that Rodriguez did not break on fast enough, and Rodriguez, pitching in relief, decided not to try to outrace Judge. A 3-1 Yankees lead grew to 6-1 later in the inning, when Gary Sanchez homered, and the Sox lost 6-2.

The way Rodriguez described the catalyzing moment to the media on Saturday, however, he made his mistake sound physical.

"I was OK, I just like, I just slipped on the mound,” Rodriguez said. “And when I realized he was beating me already, I just let him get to the base.”

Rodriguez’s focus has been a topic from time to time, including on the second-to-last day of the regular season, when Cora was displeased with his performance. Cora, in a matter-of-fact tone on Sunday’s off-day before Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, said Rodriguez needs to make sure he at least fully attempts to get to first

“I just talked to him,” Cora said. “And told him just be accountable, that's it. I guess he told you guys he slipped or something like that. I'm like, ‘Man, if you don't break right away, just be accountable, that's all we ask.’ And he's like, ‘Yeah, my fault. I just didn't break.’ That's it. Hey, I get it. Next time, just bust your ass to first base. That's all you've got to do.

“The thing is, I look at the play, and it's not guaranteed he's going to be out. But we probably have a chance. And where we're at right now at this stage, we can't take plays off. We didn't do that the whole season. It just happened yesterday. But I talked to him, and we're on the same page. Hopefully, the next ground ball to first, he goes to first, and we get him.”

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