Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s decision not to pinch hit pays off

BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora had right-handed hitter Rob Refsnyder available on his bench as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.

But Cora stuck with Wilyer Abreu against Rangers left-handed reliever Hoby Milner who was holding left-handed hitters to a .179 batting average (5-for-28) and no extra-base hits.

Abreu capped off a seven-pitch at-bat by ripping a game-tying RBI double (106 mph off the bat) to center field. The left-handed batter doubled and homered twice in a 6-4 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday.

“It’s the sixth inning and Willy’s one of our best hitters and he’s earning the right to face tough lefties,” Cora said about his decision to stick with Abreu in that spot.

Abreu entered 2-for-13 with three walks and two strikeouts against left-handed pitchers this season. But he said his fourth inning at-bat — a towering 422-foot, 106.9-mph blast to right-center field to tie the game 2-2 against right-handed starter Tyler Mahle — was even more satisfying than the double.

“I think the first home run was the most important for me because it came off a pitch that I’ve had a little bit of trouble (with) during the season,” Abreu said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. “So for me to be able to hit that ball that far, it was very good. Obviously the double was a good one, too.”

Abreu connected on an 83.7 mph split-finger fastball from Mahle. He has had more success against breaking balls and offspeed pitches than fastballs this season.

“I feel like Alex has given me the confidence to be able to hit against lefties,” Abreu said. “And obviously from last year to this year I feel like I’ve improved a lot.”

Abreu also had a 386-foot, 106.5-mph solo homer in the eighth inning that made it 6-3 Boston.

The 25-year-old Abreu is batting .294 with a .400 on-base percentage, .580 slugging percentage, .980 OPS, nine homers, seven doubles, 25 RBIs, 22 runs, 21 walks and 30 strikeouts in 36 games (140 plate appearances).

“Outstanding,” Cora said about Abreu’s game. “He put (up) good at-bats. Got pitches that he was able to handle. … The one against the left(hander), that was great at-bat. He laid off some pitches and then put a great swing on it.”