Alex Cora Explains Bullpen Usage In Red Sox's Loss To Yankees originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alex Cora's Boston Red Sox bullpen coughed up a lead late in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees.

Up 2-1, Cora sent out Danny Coulombe to start the seventh inning. The southpaw struck out right-handed outfielder Randal Grichuk for the first out before allowing three straight singles to Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jose Caballero.

Coulombe struck out left-handed catcher Austin Wells before Cora removed him for Greg Weissert. Yankees manager Aaron Boone countered by bringing Cody Bellinger off the bench to hit a go-ahead two-run single off the righty.

Cora discussed his thought process after the game, via MLB's Film Room.

"A bunch of lefties in the pocket," Cora said. "We rolled the dice with Grichuk, we got him out and then the lefties got on (base). We knew Bellinger was going to be a part at one point; it was just a matter of when."

Bellinger delivered a clutch pinch-hit in place of Amed Rosario against the right-handed Weissert, who then allowed another RBI hit to Aaron Judge. The 31-year-old avoided more damage by striking out Giancarlo Stanton with the bases loaded.

"We felt like it was a good matchup for us," Cora said. "We fell behind, and Bellinger put the ball in play."

Fans may still wonder why Cora chose Weissert for the high-leverage spot. He has a 4.66 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 11 appearances this season.

Meanwhile, neither Garrett Whitlock nor Aroldis Chapman pitched once in a three-game series against the Yankees. A messy seventh inning may have warranted more urgency for Cora to deploy one of his premier relievers to protect the lead and avoid a costly sweep.

The Red Sox will look to recover when starting a road series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

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