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Boston Red Sox World Series 2018: Ian Kinsler could become the next Bill Buckner

By Sam Minton

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: Ian Kinsler #5 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the thirteenth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: Ian Kinsler #5 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the thirteenth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Ian Kinsler didn’t have an amazing Game 3. If the Boston Red Sox end up losing the World Series his costly mistakes will be remembered for eternity.

Ian Kinsler probably didn’t sleep well on Friday night. The Boston Red Sox 2nd basemen made plenty of mistakes in Game 3, but one could haunt him forever.

Kinsler entered the game as a pinch-runner for J.D. Martinez in the 10th inning. This move makes sense because Martinez rolled his ankle in Game 1. He hasn’t looked that great running and isn’t a fast guy to begin with.

When Kinsler entered the game he went on a crazy ride around the bases that eventually led to him being thrown out at home. Now this isn’t a big deal. Everybody gets thrown out, but Kinsler wasn’t done yet.

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In the bottom of the 13th inning the Red Sox had a 2-1 lead and just needed one more out to end the game. Red Sox’s nation could have fallen asleep a lot earlier and know that they were one win away from winning the World Series.

Kinsler had other plans.

The 2nd baseman overran a ground ball off the bat of Yasiel Puig and was forced to throw the ball off balance. The throw wasn’t pretty. It went past Christian Vazquez who was playing first, and the Dodgers tied the game.

Kinsler has to be smarter in the moment. Max Muncy scored all the way from 2nd. The smarter decision was to either plant your feet and try to gun Puig out, or just hold onto the ball. Puig was the Dodgers 7th hitter. It’s not like the Sox would then have to strike out Manny Machado.

The Red Sox eventually lost the game in the 18th inning and now have to play again on Saturday night. The series could be headed back to Boston down a game.

Next. Nathan Eovaldi has been Sox's most reliable pitcher. dark

If the Red Sox end up losing the series Bill Buckner won’t have to worry about being remembered for the worst World Series blunder in Red Sox’s history. That will belong to Ian Kinsler.

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