TORONTO — Dustin Pedroia going down with a hamstring injury was supposed to be another flashing red light signaling the end of the Red Sox’ 2015 season.
Forget about what he means to the team as a leader. Just look at what he was doing at the plate: a .306 average, .367 on-base percentage, 14 doubles, nine homers and 33 RBI. And he finally had become the No. 3 hitter the Red Sox needed (they entered yesterday ranked 24th with a .724 OPS from the three-spot).
But Pedroia’s injury forced Xander Bogaerts into the role he had long projected to fill.