Game 1 hero Nunez was saved for lefty reliever: 'That was the plan'

On paper, it seems like a dubious decision to start Rafael Devers at third base over Eduardo Nunez against one of the best left-handed pitchers of all time.

But that's exactly what Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora did in Game 1 of the World Series with Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Cora's reasoning to Nunez prior to the game was to ensure they had a right-handed bat available off the bench, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

"They are going to mix and match. If we play all the righties, then our bench will not be where it should be," Cora told Nunez.

Sure enough, Cora was proved right when the Dodgers turned to lefty reliever Alex Wood with Devers due up in the seventh inning. He countered with Nunez, and the infielder capitalized with a stunning, pinch-hit, 3-run home run, cementing the 8-4 victory.

Nunez took the news that he wasn't in the starting lineup in stride.

"I understood. I'm a veteran now. I'm not a selfish player," he said. "Devers has played well. (Cora) explained to me, lefties were hitting Kershaw were pretty well - it was a good matchup. He told me, 'Be prepared late in the game. If they bring in a lefty for Devers, you will hit for him.'

"That was the plan."

With Steve Pearce in the starting lineup over Mitch Moreland, the only other right-handed options on the Red Sox bench were catcher Christian Vazquez and switch-hitter Blake Swihart.

Cora is relishing the strategy involved in lineup construction and trying to see his opponent's decisions - in this case, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts - before they're even made.

"I love it. It's a challenge," Cora said, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. "They're going to mix and match. They're going to pinch hit, they're going to bring in their relievers. And you know how I say I hate managing the other team, but actually you have to manage them and see who they have, and where they're going to come in, and when it's going to be the point that the matchup is going to benefit us."

Nunez, for one, is backing his manager's savvy.

"Yeah, I think he makes great moves," Nunez said. "He watches a lot of video. He's very smart. I think that he's the reason we're here."

Game 2 of the World Series goes Wednesday at 8:09 p.m. ET at Fenway Park.