NEW YORK — Brayan Bello sat in the clubhouse, still fully clothed in his baseball uniform, late Tuesday evening. His turf shoes were still on. His gray baseball pants still covered them down to the sole. His red Red Sox hoodie that flashed "October Baseball" was still on, covering his white baseball jersey underneath. He leaned on his wooded locker. Head tilted to the left, wondering how he lasted just 28 pitches and 2 ⅓ innings in Game 2's 4-3 loss in the Wild Card Series.

This was the game Cora had circled. He had no interest in returning to the Bronx for a decisive Game 3. The plan was to end the Yankees here, on their own field, the moment the door cracked open.

"It's a tough lineup," Cora said afterward. "Bunch of lefties. I thought the at-bats were getting better with the l

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