NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Cora had such a short leash on Brayan Bello in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series on Wednesday night that the Boston Red Sox starter lasted just 2 1/3 innings before giving way to a left-handed reliever.
Playing that matchup game worked initially, and Cora kept calling on a rotating cast of characters from the bullpen from that point forward. The Red Sox used seven pitchers and, after with the chance to move on, they may need to do more of the same in the series-deciding Game 3 on Thursday night with no starter announced in advance.
In a stark contrast to the opener, when Boston only needed Garrett Crochet, , and closer Aroldis Chapman, who got the final four outs — including escaping a bases-loaded no-outs jam in the ninth.
That luxury allowed Cora to dig deep into his pen Wednesday night. Bello threw only 28 pitches before he was replaced by Justin Wilson, who needed 23 to record five outs. Justin Slaten and Steven Matz and Zack Kelly and Garrett Whitlock followed.
It got away from Whitlock in the eight, when he walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. and allowed a go-ahead RBI single to Austin Wells. Cora made one more call to bring in Payton Tolle, who ended that threat, but the Red Sox went down in order in the ninth against Yankees closer David Bednar.
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