Red Sox’s Alex Cora Reveals Alternate Roster Choice From 2018 World Series

BOSTON — When Red Sox fans watch Chris Sale take the mound at Fenway Park Friday night, memories of the 2018 World Series will likely come to mind.

Sale’s shining moment in a Boston uniform came when he closed out Game 5 of that series to clinch the ninth championship in franchise history. The then-Red Sox ace struck out the side, capped off a historic season, and followed a brilliant start from fellow lefty David Price.

Manager Alex Cora reflected on that game before Sale battles the Red Sox for the Atlanta Braves Friday night. Cora revealed that Boston’s Game 5 starter that October depended on the result of the previous night. The Red Sox came back to win Game 4 in a 9-6 victory. Boston’s win earned Price the start on short rest. Had the Red Sox lost that game, Sale would have gotten the start with the series tied at two.

“That slider to (Manny) Machado will be forever in my mind,” Cora said. “That meeting before that (Game 4) with DP and Chris, we mapped it out. ‘If we win today, it’s you. If we lose today, it’s you.'”

Sale created a memorable moment when Boston’s top starter entered from the bullpen in cinematic fashion to close out the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a peak memory that still brings a smile to the Red Sox manager.

“I still remember how loud it was in Dodger Stadium when those gates opened with that guy coming in,” Cora recalled.