Choosing to pitch to Tyler O’Neill or Rafael Devers in a tie game with a runner in scoring position seems to be an impossible task for opposing managers. Devers has long held the title of Boston’s best batter, and O’Neill is the Red Sox’ current home run leader.
In hindsight, Nationals manager Dave Martinez made the wrong choice intentionally walking O’Neill in favor of Devers in the top of the eighth inning.
Now with runners on first and second, Devers put together a patient at-bat and eventually slashed a pitch deep to left-center field off the Green Monster.