{"id":15462,"date":"2018-10-24T09:25:24","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T13:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/\/?p=15462"},"modified":"2018-10-24T09:25:24","modified_gmt":"2018-10-24T13:25:24","slug":"eduardo-nunez-world-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2018\/10\/24\/eduardo-nunez-world-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Eduardo Nunez Becomes Latest World Series Hero"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recent history, the Boston Red Sox<\/a> have been spoiled with postseason heroes. Remember Dave Roberts<\/a><\/strong>, who now manages the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>, when he stole second base during Game 4 of the ALCS? Or David Ortiz<\/a><\/strong>, when he hit walk-off home runs in Games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS? And who can forget Big Papi\u2019s Grand Slam in Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers<\/a>?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Game 1 of the 2018 World Series, another unlikely hero would emerge for the Red Sox. Up 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and runners on first and second, Red Sox manager Alex Cora<\/a><\/strong> decided to pinch hit with Eduardo Nunez<\/a><\/strong>. Given the team’s successes with two outs, Nunez would add to this narrative, blasting the ball over the Green Monster for a three-run home run. The Red Sox would take Game 1 over the Dodgers 8-4, largely due to the magic produced at the plate by Nunez.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eduardo Nunez Becomes Latest World Series Hero<\/h2>\n

Nunez Overcomes Declining Season with Stellar Postseason<\/h3>\n

At 31-years old, it appeared that Nunez\u2019s performance was starting to decline. The infielder who is a career .279 hitter with 56 home runs and 289 RBIs has traveled to four different teams in his career. His latest stop is with Boston after a brief stint with the San Francisco Giants<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This past season, Nunez struggled to play up to expectations. He hit .265\/.289\/.388 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. This landed the third baseman a permanent spot on the bench.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But coming in as a pinch hitter, Nunez has a newfound identity on this prolific Red Sox offense. Despite not having the highest batting average, Nunez\u2019s hits have been timely. In the ALDS against the New York Yankees<\/a>, Nunez recorded an RBI Double. In the ALCS against the Houston Astros<\/a>, the pinch hitter recorded a hit and got on base with a walk. His solid at-bats in a pinch have impressed Cora thus far in the playoffs, especially given Nunez\u2019s recent injury history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTough off-season for him. We got lucky that he was out there late in the off-season, and we were able to sign him,\u201d said Cora<\/a>. \u201cAnd he’s been great. He wasn’t a hundred percent throughout the season. He struggled defensively, we know that, at second, but he always had a positive attitude. And he’s one of the leaders in the clubhouse. For him to show up today and put up a big swing, that’s his first World Series swing, it’s very gratifying to see him do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nunez’s home run similar Kirk Gibson<\/a><\/strong>‘s in 1988 World Series<\/h3>\n

30 years ago, during the 1988 World Series, postseason history would be made between the Dodgers and Oakland A’s<\/a>. The Dodgers would pinch hit a hobbled Kirk Gibson. In what would become one of the most iconic moments in World Series history, Gibson hit a walk-off home run off dominant closer Dennis Eckersley<\/a><\/strong>, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 series lead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nunez hit .182 as a pinch hitter this season. In 44 plate appearances, the infielder only got one extra-base hit.\u00a0<\/span>Sometimes, the baseball gods are friendly to a worthy perennial powerhouse. The 108-win Red Sox disposed quickly of the Yankees and Astros, each of whom had over 100 wins. Coming into Game 1, the Dodgers bullpen had a collective 1.30 ERA and 0.96 WHIP this postseason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But the Red Sox lineup dug deep and made a strong Dodgers bullpen look weak. Just ask Eduardo Nunez, who will be Boston\u2019s favorite citizen leading up to the first pitch of Game 2.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>