It was the 11th game of season. April 19. One hundred and fifty-one to go.
No matter.
Sometimes, regardless of what the calendar looks like, it's important to understand relative magnitude of the moment. That's exactly what Alex Cora did in the Red Sox' 2-1 win over the Blue Jays Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
They were going up against the head-and-shoulders favorites to win the American League East. Early-season returns hadn't allowed for much of an identity. And, to top it off, the Red Sox were bobbing and weaving their way through some more Covid chaos.
This win seemed like it might mean something more. Cora could feel that.
"We were very aggressive. It was an aggressive day, too," the manager said after his team improved to 6-5. "Sometimes those kids in the clubhouse, they deserve that. After everything that went on, we got Plaw (Kevin Plawecki) watching the game on TV, Christian (Vazquez) watching the game on TV, there are certain days that you know what the human element takes over and it seemed like a playoff game and I managed it like a playoff game. It was a very heavy day for everybody, a lot of stuff going on, and I went for the win."
Nothing about this was easy. And that was why Cora's intent wasn't difficult to decipher.
With the game sitting at 1-1 until Connor Wong's seventh-inning sacrifice fly, the manager used his current A-list of relievers to navigate through the potent Toronto lineup. Nathan Eovaldi had done his thing - allowing one run over 4 2/3 innings - but not leaning the bullpen was non-negotiable due to the starter's 95 pitches.
First came Matt Strahm. then Hansel Robles, who was followed by Jake Diekman. And, finally, the ultimate sign this one might mean something - a Garrett Whitlock sighting.
It's a bullpen that has become one of the saving grace's throughout these first 11 games (7 of which have been decided by two or fewer runs, by the way). The Red Sox relievers have totaled a 3.17 ERA and .199 batting average against, owning the third-best strikeouts-per-nine innings rate (10.80) of any group in the majors.
It's a group that certainly isn't born from shock-and-awe offseason acquisitions.
Strahm was signed for $3 million off an early March workout after totaling just 6 2/3 innings all of last season. (He already has 6 frames this year, striking out 6 while allowing just three baserunners.)
Robles came back from his first go-round having to life on a minor-league deal. He has now recorded 19 straight innings of scoreless regular season relief.
Diekman has become a revelation in the late innings after struggling through a spring training where his command - and best slider - hadn't quite been uncovered. The lefty has faced 15 batters, giving up just two hits and one walk while fanning seven of them.
And, of course, there is Whitlock. Of the 35 batters he has taken on, just six have reached base. He has become as automatic as anyone could hope a closer could be while doing it a little differently. Example: The righty has more scoreless outings of more than an inning (26) than any pitcher in baseball.
This time - with the Red Sox' offense managing just three hits - the relievers had to serve as the ultimate message-senders. Message sent.
"We’re still learning. It’s not easy," Cora said of finding early-season definition i the bullpen. "I’ve been saying it all along, there are certain guys that have to step up and hopefully Barnsey (Matt Barnes) can get to where we want him to get and take over. (Wednesday) is a big day for the other guys. We have a lead, we have to use them because we were very aggressive today. There are guys we trust. Their stuff should be there. It’s about executing. Hopefully, we can get more guys that start throwing the ball well. I do believe they’re getting close. They’re right there. If they do that, then it’s a lot easier for Bushy (Dave Bush), Walk (Kevin Walker) and myself."