Red Sox World Series: Five reasons why Game 3 was lost

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 03: Ian Kinsler #5 of the Boston Red Sox winces as he walks back to to dugout in the bottom of the first inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on August 3, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 03: Ian Kinsler #5 of the Boston Red Sox winces as he walks back to to dugout in the bottom of the first inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on August 3, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 30: Ian Kinsler #5 of the Boston Red Sox receives a throw at second base in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 30: Ian Kinsler #5 of the Boston Red Sox receives a throw at second base in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

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.

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.

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