Kinsler’s costly error
The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the 13th inning when Nunez beat out an infield single with a head first dive (see, told you Nunez would have dove). Reliever Scott Alexander came off the mound to field the ball cleanly but made a poor underhand throw to Kiki Hernandez as he raced over to cover the bag, allowing Brock Holt to score the go-ahead run.
Unfortunately, Kinsler would return the favor in the bottom of the inning.
Eovaldi walked Max Muncy to begin the inning but retired the next two batters to put the Red Sox within one out of victory. Yasiel Puig hit what appeared to be a routine ground out to second base that should have ended it.
CAN'T PREDICT BASEBALL. pic.twitter.com/DlbW3xQipu
— MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2018
It didn’t. Kinsler’s cleat got stuck in a divot, forcing an off-balance throw that went wide of first baseman Christian Vazquez (yeah, our starting catcher was filling in at first base by that point. It was a weird game).
The errant throw allowed Muncy to score the tying run. Five innings later, a sleep-deprived fan base watched as Muncy’s walk-off homer won the game for Los Angeles. A thrilling comeback for the Dodgers that never happens if Kinsler – a Gold Glove nominee – makes a routine play.
If the Red Sox don’t win this series, Kinsler is in danger of becoming the next Bill Buckner. This play may haunt him and the city of Boston for years to come.