Despite dominating the Los Angeles Dodgers in 5 games, Boston’s World Series journey to their ninth franchise title was certainly filled with legendary moments.
Damage done for the Boston Red Sox.
Now we’ve finally had time to digest all that was the 2018 Red Sox. Highlighted by108 wins in the regular season and then an absolutely dominant ride through the postseason, this team turned out to be really special. Suffering just one loss in each series, Alex Cora and his squad were simply unbeatable from postseason’s first pitch.
This World Series in particular wasn’t one that left many fans clenching their seats in fear. We saw it with Criag Kimbrel in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Yankees. Then Kimbrel again when Andrew Benintendi’s unbelievable grab propelled Boston over Houston. No everything was different once the Red Sox came home and opened up against the Dodgers. They attacked early, eliminated all bullpen concern discussions, and flipped the switch.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
Here were the Top 5 World Series moments that led Boston to their centuries fourth title.
5) Eduardo Nunez’ pinch-hit homer in Game 1
A sought after highlight considering all that happened in the final three games of the World Series.
Nevertheless, Eduardo Nunez’ pinch-hit at bat was huge for Boston.
To kickoff the October classic, Nunez came up huge in giving Red Sox pitching much needed run support late. In the 7th inning, Nunez delivered a three-run bomb over the monster to give the Red Sox a comforting 8-4 lead.
Nunez’ first home run of the postseason came at the right time, leading to a 1-0 World Series lead.
4) Mitch Moreland’s pinch-hit blast in LA
Another pinch hit clutch moment for the Boston Red Sox came in Game 4 off the bat of Mitch Moreland.
One of the most pivotal managerial decisions that proved to payoff big for Alex Cora was calling upon Moreland in LA.
Just following a David Ortiz esque speech in the dugout where Chris Sale screamed “WAKE UP”, it was Moreland who did just that. With Ryan Madson called upon to clean up Boston’s first and second, two-out rally, Moreland took Madson deep to cut the Dodgers lead to just one. Coming with again, two men out and in the 7th inning.
This was one of the clutchest at-bats by any Red Sox in the entire 2018 playoffs. One that led Yasiel Puig’s hands over his head in shock, and Boston to a 3-1 World Series lead over LA.
3) David Price tallies 2 of Boston’s 4 wins
Redemption.
The end of critics and referencing to post-season demons.
Those very demons were exorcised by David Price most notably through his work in the World Series. That redemption in the World Series began in game 2 at Fenway. Price led Boston Red Sox pitching to 6.0 innings while allowing 2 Dodgers runs off 3 hits with 5 K’s. Another quality postseason start to quiet his media critics commentary.
Then in game 5 it was almost as if Price played tug-a-war with Steve Pearce for the World Series MVP Award. Still a debate that will carry on for years to come in Red Sox nation. David Price pitched the most quality start by an Red Sox pitcher in years. 7.0 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, and 5 strikeouts was the pitching line for Price in a legendary game 5 outing.
The outing that seized victory for Boston and Price to “opting in” for a run at it again come next season. This also seized Price’s legacy in the Boston Red Sox history books. Vanishing his previous struggles, and off field issues that led to various occasions of media slaughter.
David Price doubters owe it to him. Give credit where it’s due. Price stepped up and got the job done!
2) Nathan Eovaldi’s heroic Game 3
Heroic is the only way to describe what we all saw from first year Boston Red Sox, Nathan Eovaldi.
Expectations weren’t necessarily set for Eovaldi entering the postseason for Boston. He hadn’t pitched in the playoffs prior to joining the Red Sox, making him a wild card in the pitching rotation.
More from Boston Red Sox
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
- Mookie Betts Has Humble Outlook on Returning to Fenway
- Alex Cora Reveals What He Said to Cause NSFW Response from Justin Verlander
However Eovaldi soon proved to be one Alex Cora’s most valuable weapons on the playoff roster. We most importantly witnessed this postseason emergence from Eovaldi in the third game of the World Series in Los Angeles.
An 18-inning thriller of absolute exhaustion. Nathan Eovaldi pitched the equivalent of a postseason start via a relief appearance and absolutely delivered. 6.0 innings while striking out five Dodgers, three hits, and one run. Eovaldi’s unforgettable performance in Game 3 left many heart-broken as teammate, Rick Porcello was said to have cried tears following Eovaldi’s night. Perhaps the loss was the spark Boston needed to propel them to back-to-back wins the next two nights to finish the job in LA.
Eovaldi went on to rack up a 1.61 earned run average while allowing four runs through 22 1/3 World Series innings pitched.
Even World Series MVP candidate David Price held up Eovaldi’s name sign up during the Red Sox World Series parade, Wednesday afternoon. Much similar to the 2007 duck-boat celebration when players held up a sign reading “re-sign Mike Lowell” following his tremendous World Series MVP performance against Colorado.
1) Steve Pearce in Games 4, 5
M-V-Pearce!
Just the spark Alex Cora and the Boston Red Sox were in search for once the run production hit a major drought in Los Angeles. The postseason is the picture perfect opportunity for the unlikely hero to emerge. For Boston that was Steve Pearce by a long shot.
It only took a minor league infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays to hand over the soon-to-be World Series MVP in Pearce back in June. It’s fair to say that Pearce’s name wasn’t exactly to hottest in many people’s MVP prediction talks before the start of the World Series.
It all started off in Game 4.
Shortly after Moreland’s heroic 7th inning at-bat, Pearce took the swing that began his MVP campaign for Boston.
With one out in the 8th, Steve Pearce took Kenley Jansen’s 92 MPH pitch to deep left center. That homer tied up Game 4 late for Boston. However Pearce wasn’t done right there for this game. Steve Pearce did damage yet again in the 9th inning, clearing the bases with a 3-RBI double, racking up 4 RBI’s on the night to lead Boston to a commanding 3-1 series advantage.
One night later and Pearce’s bat came to haunt the Dodgers yet again. In the first, Pearce took Clayton Kershaw yard to open up the game with a 2-0 lead. Then again versus Kerhaw in the 7th, Steve Pearce went deep over the 395-foot wall in center-field.
Three home-runs, 7-RBI’s, in the span of just two nights led the Red Sox to their ninth World Series and Steve Pearce to becoming a Boston legend.
It was a dominating ride for the Boston Red Sox in 2018, and as David Price stated Wednesday, let’s “do it again”.