I can hear a lot of sheepish men, particularly in New England telling their outraged wives that very thing, no matter how lame it sounds because the game that began at 8 PM last night only ended at 3:32 AM Eastern, some 45 minutes ago as I begin writing this. After a certain number of hours (and I know this from experience) even a placid wife who seldom cares where her man is suddenly begins to notice that the hour is past 1, 2, 3 AM.
That placid woman suddenly becomes as unrelenting as a New England winter. She might throw things once her husband finally finds his way home even if there isn’t any proof that he stole a few hours with somebody better-looking than her.
Devastated Red Sox fans may very well wish they had_ enjoyed a one-nighter rather than watch their beloved team lose in 18 innings to the Dodgers in game 3 of the World Series. Max Muncy, who almost ended the game in the 15th with a blast that went foul, finally straightened one out and took it the distance to end the longest World Series game in history, in innings and in time of play. It took 7 hours and 20 minutes. Combining the two teams, 562 pitches were thrown.
Considering the stormy weather on the east coast, tonight’s game wouldn’t have been played in Boston. But in the city (under the smogberry trees) as the DJ DR. Demento used to call Los Angeles, the weather was the kind the chamber of commerce could boast about. After seeing the Boston hitters take care of even such a great pitcher as Clayton Kershaw and knowing his team was already down 2 games to None, their starter Walker Buehler wouldn’t have been blamed if he were intimidated. Instead, the rookie was brilliant. The mighty Boston batters only got 2 hits off him and couldn’t score. He walked no one and struck out 7. Older Angelinos were put in mind of Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. In another World Series where his team was down 2 games to None, Fernando won game 3 and the Dodgers never looked back. Supporting Buehler was a problem, since the Dodgers’ offense has been anemic throughout the postseason. They could give him just one run, a home run off Joc Peterson’s bat. Manager Alex Cora continued his trend of not letting starters do what they’re paid countless millions to do. He pulled Rick Porcello after just 4.2 innings with only one run allowed, the blast by Peterson. This strategy would come back to bite him. With Buehler gone, Kenley Jansen reverted to the Jansen of the last World Series, giving up a home run to Jackie Bradley JR., a banjo hitter who somehow started launching key home runs during this postseason. Dodgers’ reliever Pedro Baez nearly gave up the game in the 10th. With men on the corners Eduardo Nunez flied to center. Trying to score from third, Ian Kinsler was dead meat, or toast on a stick at home plate. The Dodgers had an even closer call in the 13th. With Scott Alexander on the hill, Brock Holt led off with a walk and stole second. I guess he missed the memo that Boston historically have been a lot of slow-footed power hitters who couldn’t steal from a school for the blind. This time Nunez hit a grounder which pitcher Alexander and first baseman Muncy both tried for. That left nobody covering first. Alexander overthrew second baseman Enrique Hernandez who was trying to cover first. While the Dodgers did their 3 Stooges impression, Holt scored. As Red Sox fans saw it, that should have been that. 3 games to Nil, Dodgers going flat-line. The home team had other ideas. Muncy walked. The next two men were retired but Muncy was allowed second base when Nunez caught a pop fly in foul territory and tumbled over the wall. by the rules, since he was in an area that was deemed out of play, Muncy was entitled to second base. Even so, it required a hit for him to score. Puig didn’t hit a ringing single or double, but he got the job done. He hit a grounder which Kinsler tried to field. He slipped in doing so and his throw to first went into foul territory allowing Muncy to score the tying run. That’s about as close a call as you can get.
By the 18th There was nobody left in the Dodgers’ bull pen. Alex Wood, who began the inning was the last option for manager Dave Roberts. Wood was his 9th pitcher. To his credit, other than the starter who pitched 7 innings as a starter should, no other pitcher worked numerous innings as Eovaldi was forced to do on the other side. The only available Red Sox hurler who hadn’t pitched according to Dodgers’ broadcaster Charlie Steiner was Drew Pomeranz. David Price had been pressed into service in the 9th. Nathan Eovaldi was Boston’s 9th pitcher. He should have started game 4. instead he began the 12th. He threw 97 pitches over 6 innings, the last of which came with nobody out in the 18th. Muncy struck that last pitch, a cutter at 90 MPH with a sound of thunder. If heartbreak has a sound for New Englanders it must be that sound of an enemy’s bat crushing a Red Sox’ hurler’s best offering. They know the sound–ask a Red Sox fan what Bucky Dent’s name means. This time Muncy’s jolt sailed into the California night. Charlie Steiner put it beautifully when he said “The Dodgers are tired. The Red Sox are exhausted.” From years behind minor league microphones I know that’s the definition of the narrow difference between winning and losing.