When he was pulled, Cora went directly to All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman. Crochet went to full counts on four batters and struck out all four. Crochet went 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA this season, leading the major leagues with 255 strikeouts and topping the AL with 205 1/3 innings. Just three outings this year extended to 117 pitches, by Cleveland’s Gavin Williams (126), San Francisco’s Justin Verlander (121) and Tampa Bay’s Zack Littell (117 ). After the game, Cora told Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow the team had prepared Crochet for the moment.