It’s tough to remember that Walker Buehler started Game 3 of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox.
That’s because when Buehler exited for the Los Angeles Dodgers following seven sterling innings, the game marched on for another 11 frames before ending in a Max Muncy walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th.
Buehler, who agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million deal with the Red Sox last week after seven seasons with the Dodgers, certainly doesn’t forget participating in that classic World Series affair and the odyssey that took place to determine a winner.
“I was scared (expletive), man,” Buehler said during a Zoom call with reporters Friday. “I was a rookie pitching in the World Series against a really, really talented offensive team. At the time, J.D. (Martinez) was probably the best hitter in the world and the one big thing I remember, (Rick) Honeycutt, our pitching coach at the time, telling me I had to put one by his face every at-bat and I did that and it kind of went OK. I survived. It was a long 10-inning wait, I’ll tell you that. I remember the 16th, 17th inning you’re just kind of in this delirious state, kind of ready to go home, win, lose or draw. But we pulled it out there in the end.”
Buehler stymied the Red Sox, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out seven. It was the best start from a Dodgers starting pitcher in the series.
But Buehler’s World Series moment — he had another this year when he closed out things for the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium — quickly faded into the background given what transpired after his outing. Muncy’s homer, Nathan Eovaldi’s gutsy relief performance and Ian Kinsler’s error all grabbed the headlines, leaving Buehler to become a footnote in the longest game in World Series history.
The Dodgers grabbed a win that night, but dropped the next two games, which prevented an opportunity for Buehler to pitch at Fenway Park. He didn’t get that chance in 2023, either, when the Dodgers made a regular-season trip to Boston as Buehler dealt with Tommy John surgery.
But Buehler knows from that World Series experience that Fenway’s atmosphere fits well with the personality he exhibits on the mound.
“I think I’ve always kind of been an emotional player and somebody that screams and yells and does all that stuff. So, I’m certainly looking to forward to the first moment like that at Fenway,” Buehler said. “Different parks have different strengths and weaknesses and emotions and whatever. Having not pitched there, I’m looking forward to it certainly. It was pretty electric when we played there in the World Series and we got our butts handed to us. It was pretty loud in there.”
