World Series: Boston’s Eduardo Nuñez goes from mentor to hero in Game 1
BOSTON – On the eve of the World Series, Eduardo Nuñez modestly claimed that his biggest role for the Red Sox is to help young third baseman Rafael Devers.
Nuñez has found himself on the Red Sox bench this postseason as his protege has blossomed.
But on Tuesday night, he showed once again that he’s more than Devers’ cheering section.
Nuñez came off the bench to pinch-hit for Devers and delivered a three-run home run over Fenway Park’s Green Monster to cap the score in the Red Sox’s 8-4 victory over the Dodgers in Game 1.
“It’s something special,” Nuñez said of his first World Series home run and the first pinch homer of his career. “It’s something that you dream about: [hitting one] in the World Series.”
Nuñez pumped his right fist in the air and kept his right arm raised high as he sprinted around the bases in the seventh inning. When he reached the home dugout, he triumphantly extended both arms and soaked in the roar of the sellout crowd of 38,454.
With the exception of his immediate family, perhaps nobody was happier for Nuñez than Devers, who turns 21 on Wednesday.
“He’s one of my best friends here,” Devers said. “I’m happy for him, and I expect that when they put him in tomorrow he’ll do his job again.”
Nuñez was expected to play a pivotal role last season for the Red Sox after he was acquired from the Giants in exchange for a pair of minor-leaguers on July 26, 2017.
As his 2017 season soured when he suffered a right knee injury on Sept. 9, his biggest contributions to the team were in the clubhouse helping Devers. He returned to action in time for last year’s postseason, but he aggravated the injury in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Astros and was done for the year.
It’s an understatement to say that 2018 has been somewhat of a struggle for Nuñez, who finished the regular season with a -1.1 Wins Above Replacement. His defensive WAR was even worse at -1.5.
The right-handed Nuñez was hitting a disappointing .188 (3-for-16) with one RBI this postseason, prompting Red Sox manager Alex Cora to start the left-handed Devers against Dodgers ace lefthander Clayton Kershaw.
Nuñez capitalized on the opportunity when Cora sent him to hit for Devers, who had driven in a run in his last at-bat in the fifth.
“He struggled defensively [this season], we know that, at second base, but he always had a positive attitude,” Cora said of Nuñez. “And he’s one of the leaders in the clubhouse.”
“For him to show up today [with] a big swing, it’s very gratifying to see him do that.”
Cora admitted that Nuñez was disappointed when he learned that he wasn’t in the starting lineup for Game 1 against Kershaw.
The native of the Dominican Republic didn’t pout. He maintained the same attitude that has helped him nurture Devers, knowing the young slugger’s success would be his success, and vice versa.
“We’ve always been together,” Devers said. “He’s helped me a lot. He’s a person who tells me if he sees something bad in me. He’ll go and tell me, ‘You’re doing this incorrectly, doing this incorrectly.’”
“Let’s say he’s the person who has helped me the most in this clubhouse because they acquired him after they promoted me, and we’ve gotten along well.”
In Game 1, Nuñez was the player who ensured the win.
“That’s weird because I don’t care about being the hero,” Nuñez said. “As long as we have the win, that’s all that matters. We are here to win and lose together. Who cares who’s the hero tonight?”
Many players echoed Nuñez’s comments. In most post-game interviews, such statements usually ring hollow, either as false modesty or from guys who wish it had been them.
With Nuñez, though, these sentiments sound sincere. He has proven his “team player” approach by mentoring Devers and their appreciation for him is obvious.
“I was happy because I want everything to go well for [Nuñez],” Devers said. “He’s a tremendous person, and he’s helped me a lot. No matter what happens, I feel happy for him.”
Featured Image: Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport