Alex Cora Emphatically Stands By Lucas Giolito Decision After Bad Loss
Giolito offered much more good than bad Wednesday
Lucas Giolito was in cruise control Wednesday night — until he wasn’t.
Giolito silenced the Blue Jays through five innings at Rogers Centre, and he was on pace to do the same in the sixth. But after retiring the first two batters in the frame, the Red Sox starter walked George Springer and then gave up back-to-back home runs to Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk. The consecutive jacks sparked life in Toronto, where Anthony Santander and company erased a 6-0 deficit and ultimately won 7-6 in 10 innings.
After the game, Alex Cora was asked if it was a tricky decision to let Giolito go back out for the sixth. The right-hander only was at 66 pitches after five, but he was amid his first big league start since October 2023. Cora, however, didn’t think twice about letting the 2019 All-Star stay out there.
“Not at all. No, not at all. He was built up to go 90-95 pitches,” Cora told reporters, as seen on NESN. “Like I said a few weeks ago, we’re gonna let him go. He did an outstanding job.”
Wednesday’s result was obviously tough for the Red Sox, who would have reached four games above .500 for the first time this season if they hadn’t squandered a six-run lead. However, a quality start from Giolito in his first big league start in 577 days has to be a moral victory for all.
Boston still can secure a series win Thursday when it meets Toronto for the finale of their three-game set. NESN’s full coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET.
