BOSTON — Lost, just a bit, in the excitement of the comebacking Grady Sizemore winning Tuesday night’s game with a 12th-inning single was another big night for Dustin Pedroia.
In fact, Pedroia’s three hits, including his 299th and 300th career doubles, capped a day that also included word that Mariano Rivera would take Pedroia over former Yankee teammate Robinson Cano.
In his upcoming memoir, “The Closer,” Rivera says, “Nobody plays harder, gives more, wants to win more. He comes at you hard for 27 outs. It’s a special thing to see. If I have to win one game, I’d have a hard time taking anybody over Dustin Pedroia as my second baseman.”
Pedroia, now the Red Sox’s leadoff hitter, raised his batting average to .287 with a 3-for-5 Tuesday night. He is 10-for-30 in the Boston homestand that ends on Wednesday night.
His manager, John Farrell, asked about Rivera’s comments, said, “Not surprising. I think (it’s) an incredible compliment from your opponent across the field, and maybe allows us to take a step back and really appreciate — I don’t want to say what we take for granted, but what we see day in and day out.”