Alex Cora Recalls 2007 Championship Moment With Tim Wakefield

The Red Sox swept the Rockies in the 2007 World Series for their second title in four years.

Alex Cora fondly remembered a special moment with Tim Wakefield before Boston opened a three-game series with Colorado at Coors Field on Monday night.

“I was sitting with Wake on that bench over there for the last out,” Cora recalled during his pregame media scrum, per NESN video. “I jumped the railing. He tried to jump the railing, and he face planted right in front of it. Me and Wake, we stayed there for two games. Like we didn’t move.”

Cora said he only moved from his spot on the bench when he hit a sacrifice bunt to advance series MVP Mike Lowell to second in the top of the ninth inning in Boston’s 10-5 Game 3 victory.

“We stayed right there,” he remembered. “It was great having Wake right there. That bench brought a lot of good memories.”

The Red Sox skipper added that Wakefield’s unfortunate face plant is why the knuckleball pitcher was absent in Boston’s initial celebration photos after Jonathan Papelbon struck out Seth Smith to clinch the title.

Wakefield had won 17 games in the 2007 season but was banged up going into the Fall Classic. The club ultimately decided to leave Wakefield off the roster for the World Series.

The Red Sox trampled the Rockies in four games, outscoring Colorado 29-10 in the series. After the clincher at Coors Field, Mike Timlin put his arm around Wakefield’s shoulder and delivered a message that brought his teammate to tears.

“I’m proud of this guy,” Timlin said. “It’s the hardest thing to do, to take yourself out of the game for someone else. But he did it, and I’m proud of him.”

Cora played 83 games for the Red Sox in the regular season. He had three home runs and 18 RBIs while batting .246. He appeared in just four games for Boston during the 2007 postseason.