AL WILD CARD SERIES: RED SOX VS YANKEES

October 1, 2025

Alex Cora

Yankee Stadium

Boston Red Sox

Postgame Press Conference

Yankees - 4, Red Sox - 3

Q. Alex, what did you see with Bello that made you want to pull him out?

ALEX CORA: It was a tough lineup. A lot of lefties. The bats were getting better with the lefties, and we had a bunch of them in the bullpen.

Felt like at that point kind of like we have to do this. It doesn't feel good, you know, because you want the kid to go out there and get his experience and pitch deep into the game. I felt that moment we needed to.

Q. That was a lot of pitches for Whitlock. Did you intend to use him that much?

ALEX CORA: We are all in. He is one of the best pitchers. Got up there. We were doing everything possible to get to, you know, the top of the ninth with a tie game.

Q. With Brayan, is that something you talk to him about before the game? Any sort of warning it could be shorter?

ALEX CORA: No.

Q. How do you think he took it in the moment?

ALEX CORA: In the moment frustrated him, I bet. Talked to him, you just got to be ready for the next one. It's October baseball. It is different.

Q. Just with Whitlock there, I think the most pitches he has thrown all year, and I know you kind of were relying on him a lot there, but what did you kind of see in those final batters there?

ALEX CORA: They're pretty good at-bats. The walk to Jazz, I don't know where that pitch was. Then Wells put a good at-bat, hit it down the line. That happened.

But it is one of those that at that point, we were trying to win that game, you know. And it didn't happen.

Q. Alex, on the broadcast they seemed to think that Nate could have scored when the ball gets away from Rice. What did you think?

ALEX CORA: That's their opinion. I think it's easy from up there to say that he should have -- could have scored. You know, they are not down there with us.

Q. Alex, what is your pitching plan for tomorrow?

ALEX CORA: Connelly is going to start.

Q. And how do you feel the bullpen will be tomorrow with regard to guys like Garrett?

ALEX CORA: We will check with Whit, get a lot of treatment, see where we are at tomorrow. But the rest, they are in good shape.

Q. You had Chapman warming up a couple times there in the 7th and 8th. Where did you envision bringing him in?

ALEX CORA: In the 7th, that's part of his routine. He wasn't warming up. In the 8th, no -- he was going to be -- it was either up in the 9th or not bring him at all. That's part of his routine.

Q. How key was the defensive stop by Jazz Chisholm?

ALEX CORA: He saved two runs. Because J.D. scored on that one. I mean, he hit it. It went through and he dove for it. Yeah.

Q. Alex, a couple plays, not being able to get the bunt down, was he bunting on his own there?

ALEX CORA: We will keep that one as a decision for the team. I don't want to tip my hand to them.

Q. Also the fly ball Judge hit, at least off the bat, looked like a routine play. What did you see with Jarren there?

ALEX CORA: I didn't have a good angle. I saw the replay afterwards. He just missed it.

Q. With early pitching, how -- obviously a big spot for a 23-year-old. What has he shown you this season?

ALEX CORA: These boys throw out very calm. Obviously it is going to be loud here. Two rookies, Game 3, Wild Card, Yankees-Red Sox. Imagine that. Should be a fun night. We good?