BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Baseball was on pause in Boston on Thursday night when the Red Sox and Blue Jays boycotted their game following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.
The Red Sox will resume playing on Friday for a match against the Nationals in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.
Players plan to wear the number 42 on their jerseys, in honor of Robinson, who sported the number throughout his baseball career.
In response to recent events, Red Sox Manager Ron Roenicke said issues in life are more important than baseball.
"This is a really important time in our country, and what are we going to do?" Roenicke said. "These guys have a platform to be able to discuss some things that are serious issues in our country that we need to straighten out."
Roenicke said that player Jackie Bradley Jr. and first base coach Tom Goodwin also spoke to their teammates on Thursday about their experiences living as black men.
“Listening to Goodie and Jackie talk, it makes, you know, it makes a big difference in our lives, and it should make a difference in everybody’s lives,” Roenicke said.
As for Boston’s other sports, the Bruins will not be playing the Lightning in game four on Friday, and are planning to play on Saturday instead.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports.
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