The Red Sox concocted a plan before their series against the Orioles and stuck to it, manager Alex Cora said after a frustrating 4-3 loss at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
Red Sox pinch-runner Nick Eaton stood at third base as Boston trailed Baltimore 4-3 with one out in the 11th inning. With the speedy Eaton representing the game-tying run, Roman Anthony hit a 265-foot fly ball to center field. Fans watching at home surely figured it would at least turn into a play at the plate, and perhaps another clutch RBI for the rookie slugger. However, just after Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser hauled in the pop fly and unleashed an off-line throw which ended up between third base and home plate, Eaton returned to the bag after pump-faking a sprint to the dish.
Alex Bregman then stepped into the batter’s box and popped up to shortstop for the game’s final out.
Cora explained the questionable decision after Boston’s third consecutive loss.
“That’s an impact arm in centerfield,” Cora said of Cowser, the runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year last season. “We prepare before the series and we decide who we’re going to challenge and not. So, we didn’t challenge him.”
When pressed on whether it was Eaton’s decision or that of third base coach Kyle Hudson, Cora sternly responded: “We prepare before the series, and that’s an impact arm, and we decided not to challenge him.”
Hudson told MassLive’s Christopher Smith it was his decision to hold Eaton. Hudson said Cowser’s arm and where he caught the ball led him to believe he had a “good chance” to make the throw to the plate.
The Red Sox left 13 runners on base and went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position during the contest.
The Red Sox, who have lost three straight after dropping two to the Orioles, trail the Yankees by one game for the top wild-card spot. Boston travels to New York for a pivotal four-game series at Yankee Stadium starting Thursday night.
