Red Sox manager Alex Cora botches pinch-hit opportunity

The Boston Red Sox fell short against the Oakland A’s when manager Alex Cora failed to call on a pinch-hitter with the game on the line.

Here’s the situation – the Boston Red Sox trailed by three runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Brock Holt kept the rally alive by reaching on an error. The tying run was only two batters away. Manager Alex Cora had the opportunity to craft a thrilling comeback but his decision-making may instead have cost Boston the game.

The scenario begged for a pinch-hitter to replace Christian Vazquez. The 27-year old catcher is invaluable for his defensive skills behind the plate. He’s even had a few clutch moments in his career. However, Vazquez, who is hitting a dismal .211 this season, was not the best option with the game on the line.

Mookie Betts stood in the on-deck circle hoping to get a chance to hit. He was out of the lineup to start the game but was available to pinch-hit. Cora was willing to send his best hitter to the plate in place of Tzu-Wei Lin if Betts had the chance to represent the tying run.

He never got that chance. Vazquez managed to draw the count full, building hope that he might take a walk that would put the game in Mookie’s hands. Instead, Vazquez popped up a slider on the eighth pitch of the at-bat. Game over.

Betts has been arguably the best hitter in baseball this season. He’s hitting a blistering .366 with a 1.191 OPS, six home runs, and 14 RBI. There is no other Red Sox hitter you would want at the plate in that spot. So why wasn’t he?

I’m not buying the case for only turning to Betts if he had the chance to tie the game. Sure, the best case scenario would be a home run that would still have the Red Sox trailing by one with Lin up next. That’s fine. Cora still had Hanley Ramirez and Eduardo Nunez at his disposal off the bench.