Bedard: Ian Kinsler, top of lineup come up short as possible 3-0 lead slips away

LOS ANGELES — The Red Sox were one throw — or one more defensive at-bat — from taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the World Series over the Dodgers, something no team has ever come back from.

But then second baseman Ian Kinsler threw the ball past first base, allowing the tying run to score in the 13th inning. Five innings and untold pitches later, the Red Sox fell to the Dodgers 3-2 and now face the prospect of the series being 2-2 if Los Angeles can scrape together another victory on Saturday night.

But if this is ultimately just a speed bump on the Red Sox' road to their fourth World Championship in the past 15 seasons, then it will be a mere footnote.

There's no question, however, that right now, it's a play that looms very large — especially for Kinsler.

"I had the last out in my hands," said Kinsler. "It’s tough to swallow. There’s nothing they can say in that room to make me feel better."

Let's set the stage for what transpired.

The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the 13th inning on a miscue by the Dodgers. After Brock Holt walked, he took off from first with Eduardo Nunez at the plate and Nunez hit a soft grounder midway between the pitcher, Scott Alexander, first base and shortstop. Alexander gloved the ball and flipped to Enrique Hernandez who was late and tried a sliding catch to get Nunez. It sailed down the right-field line, scoring Holt.

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In the bottom half of the inning, after a lead-off walk by Nathan Eovaldi to Max Muncy, Eovaldi retired the next two batters. The second out, a foul pop that sent Nunez tumbling into the seats, allowed Muncy to reach second.

With two outs and the Red Sox one out away from a 3-0 series lead, Yasiel Puig hit a hard ground ball that would normally be a single, but Kinsler was positioned up the middle and only had to slightly go to his right.

He slipped a little getting the ball but had plenty of time to gather himself to make a good throw or — at the least — hold onto it the ball to keep the runner at third and live for the next out. Instead, Kinsler threw way wide of first to Christian Vazquez (an extra-inning position swap) and Muncy was able to score to extend the game.

"I don't know, I haven't talked to him," said Alex Cora, when asked about the play. "It seemed like he was a little off balance when he caught it. He's one of the best defensive second basemen in the Big Leagues. He's been making that play for a while and just threw it away."

Said Puig: "God blessed me with that groundball."

Eovaldi said Kinsler apologized to him after the play.

"I told him he had nothing to apologize for: 'We're a team, I know you got my back,'" Eovaldi said. "And I've got his."

Kinsler appreciated the attitude of his teammates, but he still realized the gravity of the situation.

"He picked us up so big, picked me up after that play," said Kinsler.

"It’s difficult, you try your best. There’s still a game to play, a game to try and win. You try to put it behind you as quick as possible."

It wasn't the first gaffe for Kinsler in this series, or even in this game. After pinch-running for J.D. Martinez after a one-out walk in the 10th inning (another risky choice by Cora), Kinsler was nearly picked off first, then was nearly thrown out at third after over-sliding the bag on a Holt single. Nunez hit a fly ball to medium depth in center, and Kinsler sprinted to home. The throw from Cody Bellinger was strong but up the third-base line. Kinsler didn't attempt to run through the catcher or to make a hook slide away from the catcher. He was just out easily.

"I’m just trying to do whatever I can do to help this team win," said Kinsler, who went 0 for 3 at the plate to drop his average to .100 in this Series and .206 for the postseason. "I feel terrible for Nate for me to let him down right there. Next opportunity, you try and seize it."

Kinsler wasn't the only player with issues in this game. You could pick any of the top four batters in the Red Sox lineup and give then them the share of the blame, too. Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Mitch Moreland (Eovaldi had to hit twice) and Martinez/Kinsler were a combined 0 for 28 with 12 strikeouts (nine by the starters) and nine runners left on base. Bogaerts (13th) and Betts (15th) each came to the plate with the bases loaded and couldn't get the hit the team needed.

Of course, if the Red Sox win on Saturday night and put the Dodgers into must-win status for the final three games, then this will be long forgotten in the midst of champagne celebrations and duck boat parades.

But if Kinsler's miscue and the failures of the team's best hitters gave the Dodgers the life they needed to get back into this series ... Game 3 will linger for a longer time.