Boston Red Sox: Top 10 postseason performances of the 21st century

Boston Red Sox top postseason performer No. 7: Steve Pearce, 2018

Steve Pearce was a relatively anonymous player for most of his career, but that all changed in 2018. Pearce inserted himself among the Red Sox legends with a superb postseason performance, particularly in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pearce’s timely hitting came to personify a 2018 team that always seemed to deliver when they needed to the most.

Pearce started off the postseason innocently enough, and batted .333 against the New York Yankees while driving in a pair of runs. He much quieter in the ALCS against the Astros, only picking up three hits. But one of those hits was a huge solo home run in Game 3 that helped give Boston a lead that they had just lost in the half inning prior. Nobody could have known that clutch home run would set the stage for Pearce’s legendary World Series performance.

Pearce was quiet in Game 1, but he ended walking in the game tying run in Game 2, before J.D. Martinez proceeded to drive in two runs and give the Sox a lead they would hang onto for the rest of the night.

Pearce really took over in the final two games of the series. Things didn’t seem good for the Red Sox, as they were down 4-0 in the sixth inning just one night after their behemoth 18 inning marathon the night before. Mitch Moreland helped make things interesting with a three run pinch hit home run in the seventh inning, before Pearce tied things up the next inning with a huge solo home run off Kenley Jansen.

Pearce would find himself up to bat again in the ninth with a chance to put the game to rest, as he had a bases loaded, two out situation on his plate. Pearce delivered a bases clearing double that helped turn a seemingly desolate situation for Boston into a blowout win. Pearce followed this up with two more home runs in the Game 5 clincher, helping him earn MVP of the series.

Pearce’s timely hitting probably saved Boston from having to work up a sweat against the Dodgers. They were clearly the better team, but Los Angeles found themselves in a good position to make things interesting in Game 4. Pearce ensured there would be no drama, and his ability to come in and close things out for one of the most dominant teams this century helps him earn his rightful place on this list.