Nathan Eovaldi blows 102 MPH fastball past Alex Bregman
Beyond the Monster is an ongoing series where we take you back in time and look at moments in Red Sox history.
The Red Sox and Astros 2018 ALCS had some fireworks during the series on and off the field. Astros star third baseman Alex Bregman took to social media before Game 3 on Instagram trolling Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi posting a video of the Astros hitting back-to-back home runs off him earlier in the season.
The video that Bregman posted was of a game back on June 20 while Eovaldi was still with the Rays. The video showed Astros outfielder George Springer and infielder Jośe Altuve hitting bombs at Minute Maid Park off Eovaldi.
It’s funny how things come back full circle in sports because Eovaldi would end up with the last laugh against Bregman and the Astros. On October 18, 2018 from Minute Maid Park in Houston, the Red Sox took a 3-1 series lead onto the home turf of the Astros.
The Astros were featuring Justin Verlander, who was the Game 1 winning pitcher. Houston had its season on the shoulders of their ace. The Red Sox would counter with David Price in Game 5, who was coming off a no decision in Game 2.
The Red Sox were taking a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, Matt Barnes was coming in to relive Price. Price would go on to throw six scoreless innings while giving up three hits, striking out nine and walking none. The Astros would get a run back with two outs in the seventh when Martin Gonzalez took Barnes deep for a solo shot, bringing the Astros within three runs, 4-1.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora made a move to replace Barnes with Eovaldi, who came into the seventh and got the final out of the inning. That now brings us to the 8th inning and the fireworks between Eovaldi and Bregman.
With one out in the 8th inning, Bregman came to the plate to face Eovaldi. Would the social media trash talking comeback to haunt Bregman?
That’s exactly what had happened, and on a 2-2 pitch Eovaldi threw a 102mph heater past Bregman to strike him out and bring the Red Sox within five outs of the World Series. Bregman struck out on a 102 mph fastball on the black of the plate, and as Bregman took the walk of shame back to his dugout, now former Red Sox lefty David Price chirped at Bregman and yell "post that."
During his time with the Red Sox, fans and media alike have gotten on Price for how outspoken he was with the team. On that night, Game 5 in the ALCS, Price showed us why he is such a favorite in the clubhouse by his teammates.
Following the game, then Astros manager AJ Hinch admitted that was Bregman’s first time “trolling” on social media and also stated he had no issue with the video post on Instagram. "We want guys to have their personalities, have their fun ... but you gotta go out there and back it up," said Hinch. "But this is all-in-fun banter, competition. We're playing a baseball game against a really good team in front of millions and millions of people. Let your personality shine a little bit."
I know that Eovaldi doesn’t need a social media trash talk video to get him amped up for the ALCS and the potential to lead his team to the World Series. It still was a fun storyline to go along with the ALCS and the eventually Red Sox winning the 2018 pennant down in Houston. You would have thought that the Astros would have taken a cue from the Yankees and not trash talk the Red Sox on social media. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge played “New York, New York” while leaving Fenway Park following the ALDS. The Red Sox would pay homage to Judge and the Evil Empire playing the same song after the Game 4 clinching win to advance to play the Astros.
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