Lucky shave: How the Red Sox started winning after their manager picked up a razor

When Alex Cora came into the 2022 MLB season sporting a salt-and-pepper beard, it was a notable change: The Boston Red Sox manager had always kept a clean-shaven face. But the new look lasted only a month. On May 10, with the Red Sox in last place behind even the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles with a 10-19 record, Cora felt like he needed to make a change, to reset the vibe for the team.

“I’ll tell you what: If we win 10 in a row, it’s on me,…