Why Alex Cora Was ‘Very Nervous’ Amid Red Sox-Yankees Series

Alex Cora and the Red Sox arrived in New York with a clear objective: Keep playing great baseball at the expense of their fiercest rival.

But winning games against the Yankees wasn't the only thing the Boston manager was worried about in the Bronx.

The longtime division rivals were set to play their series finale Sunday night after All-Star pitchers and reserve players were announced. The Red Sox don't feature any starters in this year's Midsummer Classic, so this was the club's last chance for representation in Texas next week.

The looming verdicts admittedly weighed on Cora quite a bit.

"I was very nervous the last few days," Cora told reporters Sunday, per MassLive. "You never know how this goes because of the rules. You need somebody from every team. And I feel like the last few days, Jarren (Duran) has felt it just thinking about it. And I was like, 'We've got a lot of work if this doesn't go the right way, honestly.'"

Fortunately for Cora, he was able to provide great news to Duran, Tanner Houck and Rafael Devers before the Red Sox's shutout win over the Bronx Bombers in primetime. Boston is set to roll into Tuesday's matchup with the Oakland Athletics feeling great, both in terms of All-Star recognition and its recent play.

NESN's full coverage of the series opener at Fenway Park begins at 6 p.m. ET.