Pedro Baez was overwhelming the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning at Fenway Park on Tuesday night, continuing his dominant two-plus-month run in another crucial spot, when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emerged from the dugout to remove him.
The Red Sox were threatening to put the Dodgers away in Game 1 of the World Series. They held a one-run lead with runners on first and second. Baez was on the verge of putting out the fire after securing two strikeouts. But Roberts, playing the matchup game, decided to replace Baez with Alex Wood. Two pitches later, pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunez was on a joyous sprint around the bases after roping a line drive just over the Green Monster and a raucous Fenway Park sniffed an 8-4 victory.