Red Sox Jonny Gomes has ‘almost died five times’
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes didn’t expect to be in the starting lineup for Game 4. He ended up being the hero.
Gomes’ three-run homer off St. Louis Cardinals reliever Seth Maness in the 6th inning would prove to be all the runs the Red Sox would need to win the game and tie the World Series at two games apiece. Gomes was filling in for a banged up Shane Victorino, and it proved to be the right situation at the right time.
Gomes has played in parts of at least 11 seasons for the Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, Oakland A’s and now the Red Sox.
The journeyman outfielder has had to face his fair share of adversity, but according to a report from the Associated Press, Gomes has faced a lot more than just an emergency fill-in start in the World Series.
Apparently he has almost died five times. Here is a portion of that report:
"A candle and lighter set his sleeping bag on fire during his freshman year in high school; a car crash sent him to a hospital the following year and killed one of his friends; he nearly was shot during a camping trip in his senior year; he had a heart attack on Christmas Eve 2002; and then came a close call with a wolf.”"
With that kind of history, no wonder Gomes is able to remain calm and perform under pressure.