Sunday’s victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks was a pivotal one for the Boston Red Sox.
Boston rallied back from a 3-1 hole and later snapped a 4-4 deadlock to stave off a potential sweep in Arizona. A miscue by Jordan Lawlar opened the door, and pinch-hitter Nick Sogard delivered the decisive two-run single.
The moment carried extra weight for manager Alex Cora, whose choice to send up Sogard in place of catcher Connor Wong earned him his 600th win as a major league manager.
Alex Cora’s place in Red Sox history
Alex Cora burst onto the scene in 2018 with a remarkable 108-win debut season as Red Sox manager, capped by a World Series title. The road since has included its challenges — a one-year suspension in 2020 and consecutive last-place finishes in 2022 and 2023 — but Boston remains confident in its skipper.
With his 600th career win, Cora joins elite company in franchise history, becoming just the third Red Sox manager to reach the mark, alongside Hall of Famer Joe Cronin (1,071) and two-time World Series champion Terry Francona (744).
“It takes a lot of people to win games at this level,” Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com. “From that first swing Mookie (Betts) took at Tropicana Field on Opening Day 2018 to the last pitch Chappy threw today, it’s taken tremendous effort — from the players, trainers, front office, and, most importantly, my family.”
Cora inked a three-year extension last July, keeping him in Boston through the 2027 season — a timeline that could see him surpass Terry Francona for second place on the franchise’s all-time managerial wins list, provided both sides stay the course.
Known for his close connection with players, Cora has built a strong reputation as a “players’ manager.” Reliever Garrett Whitlock emphasized that bond while celebrating the milestone.
“It’s special,” Whitlock told Browne. “I think I speak for everyone here when I say he’s a people’s manager. We all love him, and we’ll go to war for him. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
