Chad Tracy Wins Red Sox Managerial Debut originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Today was an awkward day in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse.

News of long-time manager Alex Cora's firing the night before was still at the forefront of several players' minds. The gameday started with a press conference from Craig Breslow and Sam Kennedy, as well as a swarmed clubhouse demanding statements from players prior to batting practice.

The raw emotion was palpable in many of the players' responses, but above all else, the challenge remained welcoming in the new manager Chad Tracy.

Tracy had coached much of the clubhouse at one point or another during his lengthy tenure as the manager of the Triple-A Worcester WooSox. As such, several of the players have a positive relationship with the new skipper.

The NESN broadcast team of Dave O'Brien and Lou Merloni touched on the sensitivity of the situation several times, highlighting how players had to compartmentalize their feelings towards Cora while still welcoming a well-liked manager in Tracy.

Evidently, Tracy's message rang clear as they took care of their division rivals, the Baltimore Orioles, with a 5-3 win on the road.

He received a big boost from one of his Worcester connections in rookie Connelly Early, who pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in his Major League career. Early pitched 6 ⅔ innings, allowed two runs on four hits, including two solo homers, and struck out four on his way to earning a win.

The Red Sox will continue their divisional road trip tomorrow night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

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