How Red Sox’s Alex Cora Explained Early Hook For Brayan Bello

Brayan Bello didn’t last long for the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

After letting Garrett Crochet work 7 2/3 dominant innings in Tuesday’s Game 1 victory, Alex Cora turned to his fresh bullpen early in Game 2. Bello allowed two runs in the opening inning and two singles in the third before Cora pulled his right-handed starter for left-handed reliever Justin Wilson.

Cora explained his aggressive call after the game, per WEEI’s Tom Carroll.

“It was a tough lineup. A bunch of lefties. The at-bats were getting better with the lefties, and we had a bunch of them in the bullpen,” Cora said. “Felt like, at that point, we had to do this. It doesn’t feel good because you want the kid to go out there and get his experience and pitch deep into the game. But I felt like, at that moment, we needed to pivot.”

Cora didn’t warn Bello of a possible early exit before the game.

“In the moment, frustrated him, I bet,” Cora said. “Talked to him, you just got to be ready for the next one. It’s October baseball. It is different.”

Bello, who allowed a 5.40 ERA in September, didn’t have his best stuff on Wednesday. The 26-year-old surrendered a two-run home run to Ben Rice in the first inning, and the Yankees were threatening again before Cora made the move.

The decision paid dividends, as Wilson kept the game tied at 2-2 by retiring lefties Cody Bellinger and Rice. Six Red Sox relievers combined to allow two runs over 5 2/3 innings, but Garrett Whitlock permitted the game-winning score in the eighth inning.

Expect Cora to give an even shorter leash to rookie Connelly Early, who will start Thursday’s win-or-go-home Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. The game begins at 8:08 p.m. ET on ESPN.