The closer isn't always used in the 9th. In this case Chapman was brought in in the 8th, which IMO was the right move. But now he is unavailable today most likely. Whitlock could have pitched the 9th and still been available today. It all worked out, but I didn't like Cora's decision. The rest of the game he did fine.
Chapman was the right pitcher for the 8th; Whitlock should have pitched the 9th because it was Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton. Rice wasn’t going to PH for any of them. The mistake was the 9th, not the 8th.
I don't remember how many pitches Fried had up to then. But as I noted earlier here, the Yankmee pen stinks. In a three game series you can't afford to go with pitchers who stink
Like I said, I'm glad it worked out. But Whitlock has been just about as effective as Chapman and there were two good righties due up in the 9th. I believe this was an example of Cora making a mistake. I don't think he is generally a good manager, though except for that mistake he did well tonight.
Goldschmidt, Judge, and Stanton had PAs in the 9th. Whit has been lights out. But whatever-its still 1-0. Just eliminating the Yankmees would make the season a success.
Just because what Cora did (not using Whitlock for the righties in the 9th) worked out doesn’t mean it was the best move. Sometimes mistakes work out fine