McAdam: Red Sox take unusual bullpen path to Game 1 win

You can plan all you want. You can play the game out in your head, and think about matchups beforehand. You can even run simulations and try to anticipate what might unfold.

But then a game comes along like Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees and, before long, you realize that everything you had scripted has been tossed aside.

Time for a new plan.

Then, you don't care about anything else except getting to the finish line. You become, in essence, Malcolm X in the dugout and operate by a singular philosophy, rooted in survival -- by any means necessary.

That's what happened to Alex Cora on Friday night. When Chris Sale gave up a couple of hits in the sixth, nearing 100 pitches, it was time for the parade from the bullpen to begin.

In rapid succession, Cora tried Ryan Brasier, Brandon Workman and Matt Barnes over the span of two innings with varying levels of anxiety and success. Sale had entrusted the bullpen with a 5-0 lead, but before long, the margin was chipped away. Two runs, both inherited, scored with Brasier on the mound. In the seventh, as Barnes entered, two singles, a wild pitch and a walk led to a bases-loaded fielder's choice, and now the lead was shaved to just two.

That's when Cora got creative.

In a development that no one saw coming, he called on Rick Porcello in the eighth, despite the fact that Porcello is the scheduled Game 3 starter Monday night in New York. Steven Wright, who had been a slotted as an intriguing multi-inning relief option, was ruled out of the game beforehand with a knee injury and someone was needed to take his place. Porcello was placed on call.

And it didn't seem to matter one bit that, in anticipation of his start at Yankee Stadium, Porcello had thrown his customary 20-25 pitch bullpen session earlier in the afternoon. So much for best-laid plans and all.

"Doesn't matter this time of year,'' shrugged Porcello after the fact. "You get out there, the adrenaline's going and you don't feel a thing.''

Immediately, Porcello began pouring strikes into the zone, something the previous trip of relievers had struggled with.

"That's the name of the game,'' said Porcello. "If you fall behind with Yankee batters, they're going to make you pay. They've been doing it all year. That's why they've hit the amount of home runs they've hit. They're dangerous and you're only hurting yourself if you fall behind. So that was kind of the mentality -- attack the zone and go from there.''

He got two quick outs before Gleyber Torres reached on a 40-foot squibber down the third-base line. Then came Kimbrel, embarking on a four-out save, interrupted by a fabulous piece of hitting by Aaron Judge, who muscled a solo shot to the opposite field with one out.

Otherwise, Kimbrel navigated, like tiptoeing through the minefield that is the Yankee lineup.

Cora, of course, is no stranger to unorthodox bullpen methodologies. Last October, he part of a Houston Astros brain-trust that utilized starters in the eighth and ninth innings, in place of experienced late-inning relievers who had fallen short.

"One thing I learned last year...,'' Cora said, "to win a World Series it's going to take 25, 27 guys to do it, regardless of their roles.''

Lesson learned. And copied, apparently.

It was not a traditional route to victory for the Red Sox. Each out recorded felt like some improbable feat of strength.

Surely, this can't continue. The Red Sox couldn't possibly plot this kind of journey through the Division Series, on to the ALCS, and finally the World Series.

That's just not possible, someone asked Barnes. I mean, is it?

"Yes,'' said Barnes, almost starting down the question. Then, he waited a beat and repeated for emphasis: "Yes.''

It won't be easy. Even with allotted days off and the requisite rests, the longer the postseason lasts, the steeper the climb becomes.

But Friday represented the first step. Having grabbed a 5-0 lead, at home, the Red Sox couldn't let this one slip through their hands. Not at home, not as they tried to shed the disappointments of their last two trips to the postseason. Not after Sale had made a triumphant return to form, and had been staked to that five-run cushion.

So, the Red Sox got out the duct tape, and the bailing wire and made do with what they had.

"When it comes down to October, a win's a win,'' said Barnes. "It doesn't matter how you get 'em.''

"We had a nice regular season,'' concluded Porcello, "but now, it's all about whatever you can do to win 11 ballgames.''

One down, 10 to go.

By any means necessary.