BOSTON — Andrew Benintendi was informed late in a Q&A with reporters after the Boston Red Sox's 8-4 Game 1 victory that he became the third player in franchise history to net four hits in a World Series game.
"I don't really care," Benintendi responded. "I'm just glad we won."
Even if Benintendi doesn't give a Green Monster, his four hits put the outfielder on par with Wally Moses (1946) and Jacoby Ellsbury (2007). The Red Sox are 3-0 when the feat occurs.
Three of Benintendi's hits came off Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw, including an RBI single in the first that gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. His other three hits were singles, and he scored three runs as well.
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said a couple of his hits weren't all Benintendi's doing.
"He got lucky, too, twice, probably," Cora said. "But he's a good hitter. I know the numbers don't back that up, but we do feel that he's a good hitter against them. When he's using the whole field, he becomes very dangerous."
In a playoffs where managers have gone to the benches and the bullpens early and often, Cora stuck Benintendi in the No. 2 spot and kept him there despite his 5-for-24 (.208 average) against the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.
"I know he hasn't driven the ball for a while, he hasn't hit homers in a while, but I like that guy tonight – just to hit the ball all over the place," Cora said.
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