Context:

President Donald Trump highlighted the Boston Red Sox's nine-game winning streak following their visit to the White House on July 3, attributing the team's success to their meeting with him. The Red Sox achieved this streak through notable victories, including a dramatic walk-off win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Their visit to the White House was an unplanned stop as they were in Washington, D.C., for a game, and several players met with Trump in the Oval Office. However, Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who has been critical of Trump in the past, opted out of the visit to focus on aiding Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria. Cora expressed discomfort with celebrating at the White House while his home country faced significant challenges, emphasizing his priorities for sports and family over political matters.

Dive Deeper:

• President Donald Trump celebrated the Boston Red Sox's nine-game winning streak, claiming their success began following their July 3 visit to the White House. He posted on Truth Social expressing pride in the team's performance since meeting him.

• The Red Sox extended their winning streak to eight games with a thrilling 5-4 walk-off victory against the Tampa Bay Rays, thanks to Ceddanne Rafaela's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. They continued their streak with another win against the Rays, bringing it to nine.

• The Red Sox's visit to the White House was spontaneous, occurring as the team had a day off while in Washington, D.C., for a game against the Nationals. This visit deviated from the traditional practice of teams visiting after winning championships.

• Several Red Sox players, including Trevor Story and Justin Wilson, met and shook hands with Trump in the Oval Office during this visit. The meeting was part of a family road trip, according to a team spokesperson.

• Red Sox manager Alex Cora has expressed criticism of Trump's policies, particularly concerning Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria. Cora chose not to attend the 2019 White House visit after the team's World Series win, citing the need to prioritize his home country's recovery efforts.

• Cora explained that he felt uncomfortable celebrating at the White House while Puerto Rico was still suffering, highlighting his focus on sports and family rather than politics. He acknowledged the support Puerto Rico receives from the U.S. but stressed there was still work to be done.

• The article underscores the intersection of sports, politics, and personal values, as exemplified by Cora's decision to prioritize his commitments to his home country over participating in a White House celebration.