Red Sox Journal: Cora knows expectations are high

BOSTON — It can be reasonably assumed the Red Sox will have their first 100-win season since 1946.

The first of Boston’s 17 chances to reach the milestone came Wednesday night against the Blue Jays. The franchise record of 105 victories, set more than a century ago in 1912, is also within sight over the final three weeks.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora might reflect on accomplishments like those at a later date. On [...]

BOSTON — It can be reasonably assumed the Red Sox will have their first 100-win season since 1946.

The first of Boston’s 17 chances to reach the milestone came Wednesday night against the Blue Jays. The franchise record of 105 victories, set more than a century ago in 1912, is also within sight over the final three weeks.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora might reflect on accomplishments like those at a later date. On Wednesday Cora was trying to shake the cobwebs from an interrupted night of sleep, with 1-year-old twin sons Xander and Isander waking up hourly in need of attention. Cora also knows the real focus on his rookie season in the dugout will start in October.

“The goal is to win the World Series,” Cora said. “Since day one we’ve talked about it here. I still remember that press conference. Obviously, we’ve got a shot now.”

Booking a place in the American League wildcard game puts Boston 12 postseason victories from a championship. That number falls to 11 if the Red Sox can clinch the A.L. East, and Boston carried a magic number of nine going into Wednesday night's game against Toronto.

“We’ve kind of had the same mindset the whole year — come to the park expecting to win and don’t think about anything else,” said Brock Holt, who hit a pinch-hit three-run homer in Tuesday’s 7-2 triumph. “I think that’s why we’ve been so successful this year.”

Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr and Boo Ferriss were among the many stars in 1946, as Williams and Doerr dominated at the plate and Ferriss won 25 games on the mound. Tris Speaker and Smoky Joe Wood were the twin engines that powered the Red Sox in 1912, with Speaker hitting .383 and Wood winning 34 games. The 1946 team is often cited among the best in franchise history not to win a championship, and the 1912 team is generally listed among the greatest groups of Red Sox ever assembled.

“It’s not that I don’t get excited — don’t get me wrong,” Cora said. “I’m excited for the opportunity and that we’re going to play one more game than the rest of the league. At the same time, our goals are as high as the fan base and everybody else.”

Changing his mind

Cora’s minor gaffe in the seventh inning Tuesday night had him thinking of former Boston manager Terry Francona.

Holt was sent to the plate to hit for Sandy Leon only after Mitch Moreland had come out on deck. Eduardo Nunez was in the process of drawing a walk when Moreland was called back and Holt was summoned from the indoor batting cage down the tunnel from the Red Sox dugout.

“He would make fun of himself,” said Cora, who played for Francona in Boston from 2005-08. “He was honest.

“What am I going to say? We had a pinch hitter there, a guy out there, for I don’t know how many pitches — four pitches, I guess. All of a sudden — wait a minute — let me get the other one.”

Cora was prepared to burn Holt for Brandon Phillips in that situation if the Blue Jays had called in a left-hander from the bullpen. Facing a 2-1 deficit at the time, Cora wanted to save Moreland for later to potentially tie the game with one swing. Instead, Holt put the Red Sox on top for good with his second pinch-hit homer of the season.

“It doesn’t bother me, to be honest,” Cora said. “I don’t think people are going to take it the wrong way, either. If it speeds up, it speeds up. Hopefully in October we slow it down.”

Eovaldi to start against Yankees

Nathan Eovaldi will start Tuesday’s opener of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Eovaldi made his first relief appearance in more than two years on Tuesday night. … Tuesday marked Boston’s 10th victory of the season when trailing after six innings. The Red Sox are now 10-38 in such situations — they’re 77-5 when holding the lead. … Eduardo Rodriguez starts opposite Sam Gaviglio on Thursday night in the final game of the season series between Boston and Toronto. 

— bkoch@providencejournal.com 

On Twitter: @BillKoch25