No matter how Boston’s season ends, Cora believes the club took a big step forward, in large part due to young, homegrown pitchers like Hunter Dobbins, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Richard Fitts and others coming up and pitching well.

The Red Sox will head to the Bronx in October to take on the Yankees in the American League Wild Card Round. The Red Sox clinched their spot in the Wild Card in a walk-off victory against the Detroit Tigers Friday night after Ceddanne Rafaela tripled off the center field wall to drive in the game-ending run in the ninth inning.