BOSTON — Before Tuesday’s game against the Athletics, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that his rookie pitchers, including starter Connelly Early , were unrestricted in their workloads and able to throw 90-95 pitches. It was curious, then, hours later, when Cora pulled a dominant Early at just 80 pitches in favor of Greg Weissert in a one-run game.

By the time All-Star Brent Rooker was due up with one out and a runner on first base with the Sox leading, 1-0, in the sixth, Early had struck out seven and allowed just five hits in 5 ⅓ shutout innings. To the outside observer who watched Early throw 90 pitches in a dominant debut a week ago in West Sacramento, he seemed to have something left in the tank. In Cora’s mind, though, it was time to go to Weissert for the right-on-right matchup aga

See Full Page