NEW YORK -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora didn't like how Eduardo Rodriguez told the media Saturday he failed to cover first base in the seventh inning of Game 2 in part because he slipped on the mound.

"I just slipped on the mound and when I realized he was beating me already, I just let him get to the base," Rodriguez said.

Watch the video. The lefty never slipped. It was a lack of hustle and he gave up on the play.

"I just talked to him and told him just be accountable. That's it," Cora said. "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."

Cora said he doesn't think the Red Sox were guaranteed an out on the play.

"But we probably have a chance," Cora said. "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 in the same page. Hopefully, the next ground ball to first, he goes to first, and we get him."