Alex Cora, Red Sox 3B coach explain decision not to tag in 11th inning

Key Takeaways:

• The Red Sox faced a critical choice in the 11th inning.
• Nate Eaton was the potential tying run.
• Manager Alex Cora and third base coach Kyle Hudson made the joint decision.
• The team opted to hold Eaton instead of tagging home.
• The move raised questions about late-game tactics.

Introduction

The Boston Red Sox found themselves locked in a fierce extra-innings showdown, with the game on the line in the 11th. Nate Eaton represented the tying run at third base, and it was up to Manager Alex Cora, alongside third base coach Kyle Hudson, to determine the best move on a fly ball to center field.

The 11th-Inning Scene

When the ball lifted toward center field, fans at the ballpark and viewers at home eagerly watched to see if Eaton would tag and race home. Though it appeared to be a possible scoring opportunity, the Red Sox coaching staff ultimately decided to keep Eaton at third, preserving an uncertain outcome but avoiding a risk they deemed too high.

Coaching Rationale

Speaking about the decision, Alex Cora and Kyle Hudson explained that multiple factors go into making a call in extra innings. Hudson, as the third base coach, is responsible for reading the fielder’s arm strength and the likelihood of a successful tag. Manager Cora oversees the broader game strategy, weighing how one run might fit into the overall plan.

“Manager Alex Cora and Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson discussed their decision not to send Nate Eaton, who represented the tying run, on a fly ball to center field in the 11th inning,” the Masslive report states. This concise statement underscored the significance of the moment.

Critical Reception

Some observers questioned the conservative approach, pointing out the urgency of securing a run when the game was on the line. However, for the coaching staff, the bigger issue seems to have been the relative risk of an out at home that might have ended the inning and quashed any chance of a comeback.

Conclusion

As the Red Sox reflect on this extra-innings decision, both Cora and Hudson stand by their choice to hold Nate Eaton at third base. In the unpredictable arena of late-inning baseball, the calculus of risk versus reward can define a team’s fate—an enduring reality for players, coaches, and fans alike.