Red Sox manager Alex Cora saw the tears running down Wilyer Abreu's face but never considered replacing the emotional outfielder during Boston's series-clinching win against the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
Cora, believing in the higher power, allowed it to play out as he expected it would.
"I tell you right now, I let him hit because I was like, 'Something good is going to happen here against the lefty,'" Cora said after Boston's 7-2 win at Globe Life Field, as seen on NESN. "It just happens. That's life, right?
"I think the Lord kind of rewarded him with that one."
Story continues below advertisement
more red sox
Abreu learned Saturday night his grandmother died. Cora revealed Abreu's grandmother was in the hospital, but Cora said he did not know about her death until he saw Abreu crying in the dugout after his fourth-inning home run.
"I saw him crying and I was like, 'Oh, it happened,'" Cora said. "We talked to him and he was like, 'I'm good to go, I'm good to go.' And was he good to go."
Cora kept Boston's left-handed hitter in the game against Texas left-handed reliever Walter Pennington. Abreu, who said he appreciated Cora's confidence in the moment, made the decision pay off as he belted a three-run home run off Pennington.
Story continues below advertisement
It marked Abreu's first multi-homer game, and it was the first time he hit a home run off a left-handed pitcher.
Abreu dedicated his four-RBI game to his grandmother. He received support from his Red Sox teammates both in the dugout and after the win.
Featured image via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images
