Red Sox World Series: 5 players who carried team to a title

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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after his seventh inning home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

JD Martinez

Martinez, who was arguably one of the best hitters in the game this year alongside teammate Mookie Betts, clutched up in a big way this postseason. He led the Red Sox with a .300 average, going deep three times and also driving in a team-best 14 RBI’s.

Two of his homers were crucial, starting with a solo bomb in the series-clinching Game 5 against the Astros in the ALCS. With the game scoreless, Justin Verlander hung a curveball that Martinez crushed deep into the seats in left field at Minute Maid which ended up being the winning run. Then in another series-clinching game on Sunday, Martinez padded the lead for Boston with a solo shot to dead center.

Aside from the homers, which Martinez hit 43 of in the regular season, he was instrumental at coming through with runners in scoring position. Whether it was a base knock or a double in the gap, Martinez was locked in the entire postseason, evident by his 14 RBI’s. He recorded a hit or RBI in all but four games this October.

He came through when it mattered most for Boston, proving once again this postseason why he is arguably the best hitter in baseball. Martinez had a great approach, using the entire field. A lot of his hits were to the opposite field. Just like the regular season, JD Martinez was once again a huge part of this Red Sox lineup on their way to a World Series title.

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