The fateful decision came way before Tuesday’s game-defining moment happened.

In advance of their series against the Orioles, the Red Sox decided they would not challenge Orioles outfielder Colton Cowswer, who ranks in the top 20 in Baseball Savant’s arm strength metrics .

They stuck to that belief in the 11th inning Tuesday while trailing by a run with the tying run on third and one out when Roman Anthony lifted a 265-foot fly ball to center, keeping Nate Eaton at third even while the throw missed home plate by a decent margin.

Alex Bregman then popped out to end the game, sending the Red Sox to a two-game sweep by the last-place Orioles heading into their pivotal four-game set with the Yankees starting Thursday.

“That’s an impact arm in center field,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora tol

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