A Cora-nary operation

Four-homer finale caps World Series triumph for Boston's rookie manager

LOS ANGELES - Hard to believe now, all these wins later, but the Alex Cora Era in Boston began with a loss.

A brutal one, in fact.

On opening day at Tropicana Field in late March, none of his late moves worked out as the Red Sox bullpen blew a big lead in a 6-4 setback.

"It's baseball," Cora reassured that afternoon. "We know it's going to happen. I guess get it out of the way right away."

Yep, guess so.

A calming presence in a boiling sports cauldron, on Sunday night Cora capped one of the greatest runs by a first-year skipper in leading Boston to the World Series championship with a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chris Sale got the final three outs, Series MVP Steve Pearce hit two home runs and Mookie Betts and JD Martinez each launched a round-tripper to give Boston its fourth World Series title since 2004

While throngs of Red Sox fans chanted "Cor-a! Cor-a!" from the seats and so many more reveled across the country, all of Puerto Rico certainly cheered its native son.

Cora became the first manager from the island to guide a team to a championship. It came more than a year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and when Cora negotiated his contract last October he asked the Red Sox to help his people with relief efforts, and the team eagerly pitched in.

Moments after hoisting the championship trophy, Cora made one more request.

"Next thing I'm going to ask ownership is if we can take the trophy to my island," he said. "That would be great."

Cora again turned Dodger Stadium into his personal party room.

A year ago, he celebrated at the park as Houston's bench coach after the Astros beat LA in Game 7. This time, he was front and center when Boston hoisted the shiny gold trophy after Game 5.

Cora became the fifth manager to win the crown in his first season, joining Bob Brenly (Arizona, 2001), Ralph Houk (Yankees, 1961), Eddie Dyer (Cardinals, 1946) and Bucky Harris (Washington Senators, 1924).

Cora often wears a gray hoodie in the dugout and doesn't raise his voice - except to yell at umpires.

Shouting at his own team?

"No, no, I don't do that," he said. "I talk to them and I try to stay in tune with them. If I have something to tell them, I just sit with them. Very casual.

"I try to do it that way. It feels right. I never had a manager that was like rah, rah, screaming at guys. They always had good conversations, and I learned from them and that's what I'm trying to do."

Cora was hired after John Farrell, who led the Red Sox to the 2013 title, was fired following two straight early exits in the AL playoffs.

"Alex was the manager that fit for us. He was really good in so many ways," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said before Sunday's game.

"He knew Boston. I think he excels in dealing with the media, which in Boston is a bigger job than some other places. It can be cumbersome for a lot of people, and I'm not saying it's not for him at times, but it's part of the process and he handles it easily."

Cora steered the Red Sox to a team-record 108 wins in the regular season, then Boston topped the 100-win Yankees and Astros in the playoffs.

Along the way, it seemed the manager could do no wrong.

Brock Holt hit for the first postseason cycle when Cora gave him his only start of the Division Series against the Yankees.

Cora masterfully managed a bullpen that many questioned before October, then avoided burning it out by leaning on hard-throwing starter Nathan Eovaldi in key spots. And he helped coax a breakout postseason from Sunday's winner, David Price.

"AC told us from the first day in spring training we could do it," AL MVP favorite Mookie Betts said. "We believed in him and we went out and executed."

Cora grew up playing ball with his older brother, Joey, a former big-league infielder. Alex spent 14 years in the majors, batting .243 as an infielder with six teams.

He got to the plate one time in Boston's sweep of the 2007 World Series, putting down a sacrifice bunt for a team led by David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez.

With the season now over, Cora will spend more time with his twin 15-month-old boys. Free from any criticism that comes with such a high-pressure job, too, although he doesn't stress over it.

"I really don't care if they second-guess me. I prepare. We prepare as a group, and you make decisions," he said after Game 1. "And honestly when I'm done here, I shower, I get in that car, I might get a text that says, "Go buy some diapers for the kids."

Associated Press