Every defeat stings for the Boston Red Sox at this critical juncture of the season, but Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park cut deeper, unraveling in a single, fateful inning that left fans and analysts questioning the team’s decision-making.
The Red Sox offense managed just one run, a tough ask for any team expecting to secure a victory. Yet, rookie pitcher Connelly Early was nothing short of spectacular, holding the Athletics’ potent lineup scoreless through five of his six innings. The left-hander, fresh off a 90-pitch debut the previous week, dazzled with his command, sitting at just 80 pitches through 5 1/3 innings. But in a move that sparked debate, manager Alex Cora pulled Early in the sixth with a runner on first and one out, turning to reliever Greg Weissert. What followed was a collapse that flipped the game—and perhaps Boston’s playoff hopes.
With the score tied at 1-1, Weissert entered to face a daunting stretch of Oakland’s lineup. The decision quickly backfired. Pinch-hitter Tyler Soderstrom, a lefty, crushed a double off the Green Monster to tie the game, and Brett Harris followed with a single that plated the go-ahead run. The Athletics seized a 2-1 lead they would not surrender, handing Boston a crushing defeat. For the second consecutive game against Oakland, a Soderstrom pinch-hit double shifted the momentum, exposing vulnerabilities in the Red Sox bullpen.
Cora defended the decision to pull Early, emphasizing the matchup against Oakland’s designated hitter Brent Rooker, a known lefty-killer, as the driving factor. “It’s about the guy that is hitting,” Cora told MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “The game will dictate what we do. That’s a good big leaguer that hits lefties really well. The other guys have to do their job.”
On paper, the logic holds—Rooker’s splits against left-handed pitching are formidable. But the choice of Weissert raised eyebrows. The right-handed reliever has struggled against right-handed batters this season, with an OPS of .714 compared to a stingy .616 against lefties, making him a curious pick for the moment. Cora called it Weissert’s “pocket,” praising Early’s effort and noting the tough right-handed bats looming in Oakland’s lineup. Yet, it was Soderstrom, a lefty, who delivered the decisive blow, leaving Cora’s explanation feeling hollow.
Connelly Early deserved better. The rookie was electric, carving through Oakland’s lineup with poise beyond his years. His 5 1/3 innings of one-hit ball kept Boston in control, but the team’s failure to capitalize—both offensively and in the bullpen—squandered his gem. With only a 2 1/2-game lead for the final AL wild card spot and just 11 games left, the margin for error is razor-thin. Tuesday’s misstep could haunt the Red Sox as they fight to keep their postseason dreams alive.
As Boston stares down a pivotal stretch, questions linger about Cora’s bullpen management and the team’s ability to protect leads—and their young arms. For a club on the playoff bubble, every inning counts, and the sixth inning on Tuesday may prove to be one they can’t get back.