Because we're dealing with a groundballing lefty who had been pitching us very effectively and it looked like baserunners were going to be hard to come by.
I hear what you're saying, but a hitter isn't a coin and hits are rarely distributed purely randomly.
That said, I'm not all that big a proponent of small-ball myself. My only point is that the concept of using it isn't inherently ridiculous.
Bunting is not insane if the result is tying run at third, 1 out, Papi up. I'd rather have Ellsbury steal, but bunting in a RISP, 0 out situation is not ridiculous.
But whatever. Not worth arguing about.
BTW -- they're wrong about that 3 run single thing. It was quite a few years ago but a hitter for (IIRC) the Mets got a game-winning grand slam but wasn't able to round the bases because of the celebration. Officially, it was scored a 3 run single because he couldn't get to second base before he was mobbed.
It's somewhere in MLB's great postseason games database.