Alex Cora pulled Cooper Criswell after 4 perfect innings

Rich Hill immediately gave up a two-run homer that put the Tigers ahead.

Cooper Criswell delivers a pitch against the Tigers on Sunday. Duane Burleson/Getty Images

Red Sox right-hander Cooper Criswell was perfect through four innings Sunday against the Detroit Tigers.

He threw just 52 pitches, struck out five batters and didn’t appear to be hurt in any way.

Then, before the fifth, manager Alex Cora unexpectedly decided to remove him from the game in favor of left-hander Rich Hill. Hill allowed a two-run homer as the Red Sox went from up 1-0 to down 2-1.

Strong day for Cooper Criswell. He was perfect.

4 IP – 52 Pitches/35 Strikes
0 ER/R
5 K
0 BB
0 HR
6 Fragrances

Easily his best outing since July 30 against the Mariners. Short leash. pic.twitter.com/LzAfvAo8Qn

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) September 1, 2024

The most likely reason is that Cora wanted a lefty to face lefties Kerry Carpenter and Jace Jung. But the strategy backfired, when Carpenter walked, Jung struck out and right-hander Spencer Torkelson fired a two-run shot.

Another possible explanation for the trade is that Criswell hadn’t pitched five or more innings since a seven-inning outing against the Rockies in late July. But he threw 72, 80 and 79 pitches, respectively, in his last three outings.

Regardless, the decision changed the face of the game significantly. The Tigers added two more in the sixth, on another two-run shot, to take a three-run lead.

Sign up for Red Sox updates⚾