With the game tied 2-2 entering the ninth inning of Game 4 in the ALCS, Alex Cora didn’t want one of his usual top bullpen arms.
The Red Sox manager called on Nathan Eovaldi to pitch the ninth. Prior to Game 4, Garrett Whitlock had pitched the ninth inning in games that were tied so far this postseason. But with Tuesday being Eovaldi’s bullpen day, Cora planned to have the starter pitch out of the bullpen in Game 4. With Whitlock pitching the seventh and eighth innings, Cora thought the ninth worked best for Eovaldi.
“He was going to give us one inning and we felt right there – in that pocket – was good for him,” Cora said.