Red Sox’s Nunez delivers vital blow

Boston take 1-0 lead in World Series against Dodgers

Ayear after collapsing injured on the field to start the Major League Baseball play-offs, Boston Red Sox second baseman Eduardo Nunez went from heart-broken hasbeen to World Series hero.

The 31-year-old Dominican infielder smashed a three-run homer on Tuesday over Fenway Park’s giant “Green Monster” left-field wall to secure host Boston’s 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening game of the 114th World Series.

“It’s weird because I don’t care about being a hero. As long as we have the win, that’s all that matters,” Nunez said. “We’re here to win and lose together. Who cares who’s the hero that night? As long as we have a hero, that’s a good feeling because we have the win.”

Both managers made substitutions in the seventh inning that left pinch-hitter Nunez at the plate against Dodgers reliever Alex Wood with two runners on base and two outs and Boston clinging to a 5-4 lead.

Nunez blasted the ball high to left field and into the first row of seats atop the iconic landmark.

“In the beginning I thought it was going to be a single, because the ball go so high,” he said. “When I see the ball is going, I was excited, because I didn’t expect the ball going away.”

As Nunez circled the bases, he looked at the cheering Red Sox supporters delirious with delight.

“That was the best feeling as a player, see all the fans, they paid tickets to watch us, to play and be crazy,” Nunez said. “That’s a great feeling.”