Nandini Sharma
Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series came down to two rookie starters: Connelly Early (Red Sox) and Cam Schlittler (Yankees). For 3 innings, Early was brilliant.
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A tough-luck double, defensive mistakes, and a suddenly-hot Yankees lineup saw the 4th inning turn into a nightmare. Four runs crossed the plate.
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While other playoff managers are quick to yank even veterans, Cora kept the 23-year-old Early in the game, despite the bullpen being "all-hands-on-deck."
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Early's final line: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 6 K. A great start fell apart in a half-inning that cost Boston the series momentum.
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Post-game, Cora deflected criticism, citing defensive errors and "soft contact" that fell for hits. He also admitted they hit the ball hard.
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One key reason Cora waited: he preferred Early's lefty-on-lefty matchup against Austin Wells and Trent Grisham, sticking to the data despite the game unraveling.
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Fans slammed the manager for a decision that stood in sharp contrast to the aggressive bullpen moves seen in other playoff series, calling it a fatal flaw.
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In an elimination game, an aggressive manager might have pulled Early sooner. Cora bet on his rookie. Was it a moment of loyalty or a costly managerial failure?
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