Boston Red Sox: 3 heroes in thrilling ALDS Game 3 walk-off classic

These Boston Red Sox are something else!  Man, every time this team is counted out, they come back and give their fans hope and something to get excited about.

As this American League Division Series was supposed to be all about the Tampa Bay Rays, Alex Cora and his crew has reached deep within their souls and found that energy both at the plate and on the mound that has them tearing up the league in the first half of the season.

Boston Red Sox are the team that never dies

Following a five-hour classic Sunday night at Fenway Park, the Red Sox find themselves just a game away from eliminating the Rays and advancing to the American League Conference Series.

In winning Game 3 in walk-off fashion, the Red Sox have had several players step up and give hero like performances.  And of course, this series hasn’t been without some controversy.

The Rays do have something to gripe about after the umpires ruled a ground-rule double after Kevin Keirmaier rocked a ball to deep right-center that hit the wall and then deflected off right fielder Hunter Renfroe and into the bullpen in the top of the 13th inning.  With a runner on base, the ground-rule double kept the Rays from taking the lead.

Whether or not that decision by the umpires would’ve changed the complexion of the game and what happened in the bottom of the inning can only be imagined, but the end results are the end results and the Boston Red Sox are a game away from doing what many believe was impossible given the struggles of the team down the stretch.

In a game like baseball, it really only takes a team getting hot at the right time and players putting forth performances that will be remembered.  Here are 3 heroes from the game 3 walk-off classic vs the Rays.

Boston Red Sox heroes: Kiké Hernández is doing his thing

This dude Kiké Hernández is on a tear in the ALDS and if the Boston Red Sox do advance, it will be partly because of his performance at the plate, particularly in Game 2 and Game 3.

In help the team bounce back offensively after a 5-0 shutout loss in Game 1, Hernández followed up a 5-for-6, three RBI night with three hits in Game 3, including a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Sox a 4-2 lead at the time.

If it wasn’t for the Rays tying the game late, Hernández would’ve been the top hero of the night, but his efforts only started the heroics as Hernández is quickly cementing himself on the list of postseason performances in setting the Major League record with eighth consecutive hits in the postseason.

It is safe to say Kiké Hernández has changed the complexion of this series.  As another postseason hero is witnessing, to have a player locked in at the plate and sizzle the way Hernández has been sizzling is nothing short of special.

"“It’s fantastic. The guy’s locked in,” Kyle Schwarber said following the Game 3 victory, via MLB.com. “To be able to go out there — the postseason, it’s a different beast. You can’t compare it to any regular-season game. I feel like it brings the best out of everyone.”"

It seems like every time the Boston Red Sox make a deep postseason run an unexpected hero steps up at the plate.  Back in 2018, that player was Steve Pearce.  After another clutch performance at the plate Sunday night, Hernández is already surpassing what Pearce did.

Win-or-lose this series, Hernández has certainly made his mark in Red Sox postseason history.

Boston Red Sox heroes: Christian Vazquez is the hero late

Like Schwarber said, watching a guy like Kiké Hernández do his thing at the plate does bring out the best in other players and given the opportunity Christian Vazquez stepped up and sent the Boston Red Sox into the night victorious.

In the 13-inning classic, Vazquez stepped to the plate against Rays’ reliever Luis Patiño and sent a 96.1 mph first pitch fastball out of Fenway for a two-run walk-off homer that gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead in the series.

If the Red Sox found a way to hold off the Rays in nine innings, Vazquez wouldn’t have even gotten the opportunity since Kevin Plawecki got the start behind the plate to catch Nathan Eovaldi.  Yet, he stayed ready and came up clutch when his opportunity came with obviously the highlight of the night:

Coming up clutch is something Vazquez does often, but he does credit the walk-off homer to what he saw in Patiño’s approach to batters before him.

"“I saw the first two at-bats of J.D. [Martinez] and [Hunter] Renfroe, and he was starting with fastball. It was 97, 98. I was looking to hit that velo in front and get a good swing,” Vazquez said, via MLB.com."

Vazquez jumped on it and sent Fenway Park into a frenzy, but all the heroics as the plate late in the game wouldn’t have been possible without the performance from the top hero of the night.

Boston Red Sox heroes: Nick Pivetta absolutely shined

Kiké Hernández and Christian Vazquez were the heroes at the plate Sunday night, but the Game 3 victory wouldn’t have been possible without the relief performance of Nick Pivetta.

This man was absolutely electric on the mound in holding the Tampa Bay Rays to four scoreless innings after they tied the game 4-4.

Bounding back from the Game 1 loss to the Rays, Pivetta got a bit of revenge in allowing just three hits while striking out seven.  Pumping his fists and showing how much into the game he was, Pivetta absolutely shined in keeping the game tied and giving his team the opportunity to go up 2-1in this series.

"“I just gave it my all, to be honest with you. I just competed with the strike zone, competed with those guys, and my energy just shows what this means to me and means to our team,” Pivetta said. “It’s really exciting. It’s fun to be here. It’s a moment in time for me and for our team.”"

With just two days rest, it was one of those gutsy performances Red Sox fans will remember, especially if the team goes on to advance to the ALCS.

As for the bullpen overall, despite Hansel Robles giving up a solo homer to Wander Franco and a game-tying RBI double to Randy Arozarena, the bullpen did its thing.  Garrett Whitlock was clutch on the mound in the ninth and obviously Pivetta ended the game how Nathan Eovaldi started the game.

It was truly a heroic performance on the mound.