Cora Manages Red Sox Away from Broom Closet: Drop Finale to Mets Amid Puzzling Pitching Decisions and Offensive Woes
BOSTON — One night, Alex Cora rides his ace deep into a game, letting him throw 100-plus pitches even when the situation doesn’t demand it. The next, like tonight, he pulls Garrett Crochet after just 5.1 innings—despite only 85 pitches, five strikeouts, and just a single earned run allowed. And with a bullpen that's been running on fumes all series, it begs the question: what exactly is the plan here?
This wasn’t just any game, either. The Red Sox were facing the New York Mets with a golden opportunity to complete a series sweep and build momentum in a season sorely lacking it. But instead of closing the door, Cora’s questionable decision-making—and the team’s familiar flaws—let yet another winnable game slip away. The result: a 5-1 loss that stings more than most.
Crochet, the clear ace of the staff, was pulled with the game tied 1-1 in the sixth inning. Rather than trust his young lefty to navigate one more frame and help preserve a depleted bullpen, Cora once again opted for the quick hook. It backfired in the seventh.
With Brennan Bernardino on the mound, the Mets loaded the bases with no outs—and Brett Baty made the Red Sox pay. The Mets third baseman broke the game open with a two-run single through the right side, pushing New York ahead 3-1 and deflating what little momentum Boston had left. Another run would follow, and just like that, the game was lost. Francisco Lindor would also tack on a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning hitting the light post over the Green Monster with the game all but out of reach for the Red Sox.
And the offense didn’t help, either. In typical Red Sox fashion, they squandered a bases-loaded opportunity of their own earlier in the game. It was the bottom of the fifth inning and the Red Sox had a chance to take control and break the 1-1 tie, instead the bats went silent and Bergman struck out leaving them loaded (one of his four golden sombrero moments at the plate tonight)—yet another missed opportunity in a season full of them.
This game was a microcosm of Boston’s 2025 campaign so far: flashes of potential, undermined by inconsistent offense and baffling bullpen decisions. The team continues to struggle with situational hitting, and Cora’s usage of his pitching staff—especially Crochet—feels reactive rather than strategic. Whether it’s riding him past 100 pitches with no clear benefit or pulling him early despite strong command, there’s no rhythm to how Boston handles its ace.
The Red Sox aren’t out of it, but they’re running out of time to clean up the avoidable mistakes. This was a chance to sweep a similarly erratic Mets team and make a statement. Instead, they let it slip away—again.
Until Cora finds consistency in how he manages his best arm, and the offense delivers in the moments that matter, the Red Sox will keep letting winnable games turn into frustrating losses. And those missed chances are starting to add up.