Franchy Cordero wasn't a planned member of the Boston Red Sox's lineup for their game against the Detroit Tigers due to his slump.
But perhaps that did something to him mentally, because as a necessary addition Thursday after Kiké Hernández had to leave the game with hamstring tightness in the first inning, Cordero helped Boston win the game and the series.
Taking over in left field, Cordero made a good catch to end an inning, and had timely hits at the plate. He was 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI, and drove in the game-winning run in the eighth inning with help from a Detroit error.
After the breakthrough performance, Cordero credited coaches and teammates for lifting him up.
"Obviously was tough," the 26-year-old said after the game. "This is a hard game, if it was easy then everyone would be able to do it. But I just kept working. I was working hard with the coaches, spoke to a lot of guys, a lot of my teammates came up to me, would always try to give me some advice as well. Coaches such as (Jason) Varitek, he came up to me and spoke to me about about hitting and just everyone. It was a team effort in trying to get me right and I'm just happy that I was able to have a good game today."
He certainly needed it. Entering Thursday's game against the Tigers, Cordero was 0-for-25, with just one hit in his last 14 games.
After conversations with coaches like Varitek in a last-minute opportunity, he put together his best performance in a Red Sox uniform.
"Since he was also a left-handed hitter, he is someone that just gave me some advice on my approach and what I should be looking at and just trying to help me with the minor details here and there," Cordero said of Varitek. "But just trying to be there for me, really."
We'll see if he keeps it up.
