BOSTON — Alex Cora was the bench coach in Houston last year when the Astros put an end to the Yankees’ playoff run in the ALCS.
Now the Red Sox manager, Cora said he will be able to draw on that experience when the ALDS starts Friday night at Fenway Park.
“We’re very athletic, just like the Astros,’’ Cora said Thursday before the Red Sox worked out in advance of Game 1 between the rivals. “There are a few things we do very similar to them. … I do feel that that experience is going to help me out in a few things, a few decisions, a few things we’re going to do offensively.”
But the manager also understands something else: “Obviously, at the end, you still have to pitch.”
Jose Altuve helped lead that Houston team past the Yankees in seven games, but it was a pitching staff led by Justin Verlander that made the biggest impact.
The Yankees were held to three runs in four games at Minute Maid Park in Houston, as they went 0-4 in the series on the road and 3-0 at Yankee Stadium.
Cora took over a Boston team that former manager John Farrell led to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but was eliminated in the first round both times, which likely hastened Farrell’s departure.
“We’ve been talking about it the whole season,’’ Cora said of the early playoff exits. “The whole season. And for me personally, since I got the job, it was like, ‘Move on.’ I respect John. He was my pitching coach in ’07. He did some great things here. But I was hired, so … I never look back.”
He’s hoping the Red Sox will put their recent history behind them.
“They are good players,’’ Cora said. “They are very talented. But if you start looking back, you’re going to start thinking about bad things or bad playoffs or bad series. Since [I was hired] it was like, ‘Look forward.’ It’s a position we were looking to be in.”
Mookie Betts, coming off an MVP-caliber season, doesn’t think the Red Sox are hung up on their October defeats.
“I think we’re a little more confident,’’ Betts said. “We have a great group of guys who have been here and are at least looking to get past the first series.’’
They watched the Yankees beat the A’s in Wednesday’s wild-card game as a group and are embracing the rivalry.
“It’s good for baseball,’’ Betts said. “I think we want a challenge like this to show what we’re made of and who we are.”
Though Cora said he typically avoids the topic, the manager added he occasionally “reminds” his team of the loss to Houston a year ago and Cleveland in 2016.
“I don’t think that’s bad,’’ Cora said.
And he pointed to the challenges the Yankees present, noting that they have made changes under Aaron Boone.
“I got a taste last year with them and one thing for sure, man, that stadium, it was loud,’’ Cora said of Yankee Stadium. “It was fun to play there. It should be fun here … and we’re ready to go.”
Regardless of the venue, Cora said the Red Sox have to limit the Yankees’ home-run capability.
“That’s the most important thing,’’ he said.
