It seems Alex Cora had a game plan entering the Boston Red Sox's getaway game against the Detroit Tigers.
He stuck to it — to the Red Sox's detriment.
Cooper Criswell pitched a quick four innings to open the game. He collected five strikeouts and didn't allow a baserunner. He worked fast and made it look easy. But as Criswell was pitching the gem, Rich Hill warmed in the bullpen. The veteran hadn't allowed a run in the first 2.2 innings of his latest Red Sox tenure, but Criswell's stuff looked perfect.
Hill entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and gave up a leadoff walk and a home run two batters later. Boston's playoff hopes began to deflate.
Zack Kelly let up a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, and it drained all life from the Sox's offense. They lost the pivotal game to the Tigers, 4-1. Detroit was one of the American League's hottest teams in August, and it's right on Boston's tail in the wild card standings.
Alex Cora's decision to pull Cooper Criswell didn't make any sense, and the Red Sox paid for it
4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 1, 2024
Cruisin' Criswell. pic.twitter.com/SoYseMqDuL
Cora didn't trust his eyes in a crucial game in the Red Sox's wild card chase. Criswell isn't usually a swing-and-miss pitcher, but he racked up five early strikeouts against the Tigers' offense. Boston didn't fare any better than Detriot at the plate — the Red Sox also fanned five times before Criswell was pulled. Nothing about the offense suggested there would be much improvement with Brant Hurter in the game.
Cora managed a great first half for the Red Sox, but some of his recent decisions have cost them on the scoreboard. Not trusting Criswell is the most blatant example, but he also refuses to play Masataka Yoshida in the outfield while he's on a wicked streak at the plate. Boston's everyday DH is batting .320/.358/.500 in his last 15 games and was one of the hottest hitters in the AL in August. Yes, his defense is a liability, but the Red Sox have only posted seven runs in their last four games.
The decision to pull Criswell is indefensible, and Boston will pay for it down the stretch. It faces the Mets and White Sox next, but a series against the Orioles and a four-game series in the Bronx loom in mid-September.
The Red Sox need every win they can get, and Criswell was singlehandedly beating the Tigers. Cora made his own team's path to the wild card much harder.