BOSTON — David Price chose a great time to return to his dominant form and the Red Sox are halfway home to delivering a fourth World Series trophy to the John Henry Ownership Group.
Price, making his first career World Series start, followed up his masterful performance in the clinching Game 5 against Houston in the ALCS with six innings of solid pitching on a raw night to earn the victory in a 4-2 win over the Dodgers that gives the Red Sox a 2-0 Series lead. A two-out rally in the fifth erased a 2-1 deficit while Mookie Betts doubled and had three hits to lead the Red Sox to within two wins of their fourth World Series title since 2004.
With Nathan Eovaldi coming on to blow away the Dodgers in the eighth, Rick Porcello is the Game 3 starter Friday night in Los Angeles as Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed after the game. Price and relievers Joe Kelly, Eovaldi and Craig Kimbrel combined to retire the final 16 Dodgers, with Kimbrel earning the save.
The Series now shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 Friday and Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. The Red Sox decided to spend the night in their own beds and will leave for the West Coast on Thursday.
The game time temperature was officially announced at 47 degrees but the humidity in the air made it feel like 38. Warming hearts on this night before the game was the ceremonial first pitch from members of the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox, including Jason Varitek, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Kevin Millar and Keith Foulke. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts received a cheer when he came out and shared a hug with Millar.
The raw conditions were the subject of much discussion before game, especially from the warm-climate Dodgers.
“It’s difficult,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Game 2. “I think every person responds differently. But for us, this is the first time we’ve played in obviously weather like this. San Francisco a little bit, but nothing like this.
“So it’s an adjustment, and that’s part of the home-field advantage and especially being in the bullpen, where you have a little heater, but still have to kind of get hot and stay hot. It’s more of a challenge.”
Price was in command over the first three innings, striking out three in 43 pitches. He didn’t allow a hit until David Freese opened the fourth with a single to right.
The Red Sox didn’t have much more success against Dodgers lefty Hyun-jin Ryu. They did manage to break through in the second when Xander Bogaerts doubled to left-center with one out. After a strikeout by Rafael Devers, Ian Kinsler ripped a single down the left field line to score Bogaerts.
The Red Sox appeared on the brink of another extended rally when Christian Vazquez singled to center. But Kinsler inexplicably tried for third and was thrown out easily to end the inning.
The Dodgers finally got through to Price in the fourth. David Freese opened with a sinking liner to right and Mookie Betts could only knock down in front of him. Manny Machado followed with a single to center. Price thought he had strike three on Chris Taylor on a 2-2 pitch on the inside corner but home plate umpire Kerwin Danley wouldn’t yield and the bases were loaded with none out. It was Danley who Price barked at an inning earlier when he walked Brian Dozier on an inside fastball that appeared to catch the inside corner.
Matt Kemp drove a first-pitch changeup to center for a sacrifice fly and the game was tied. Price took advantage of the slumping Kike Hernandez, striking him out on a 3-2 fastball. But Yasiel Puig fought off an inside fastball and looped it just over the outstretched glove of Ian Kinsler for a single that scored Machado for the first Dodgers lead of the Series, 2-1.
PUIGGGGG
Yasiel Puig singles in Manny Machado to give the @Dodgers the lead in Boston! pic.twitter.com/rqaOMQyoKE
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 25, 2018
The Red Sox were wondering about a double standard on the strike zone when Xander Bogaerts was rung up on a strike at the knees on the inside corner in the fourth, though replays showed the call was the right one.
Andrew Benintendi made another spectacular postseason catch to rob Brian Dozier in the fifth.
Andrew Benintendi with the ? grab! pic.twitter.com/3VLU4wlUv4
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 25, 2018
“I believe I can fly”
– Andrew Benintendi, probably pic.twitter.com/EBfI0whGuP
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 25, 2018
The Red Sox showed their 2-out magic again in the fifth, knocking out Ryu and reclaiming the lead. Christian Vazquez singled to right with two outs and none on to start the rally. Mookie Betts grounded a single to center. A walk to Benintendi loaded the bases and prompted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to go to his bullpen.
Ryan Madson walked Steve Pearce on five pitches to force in a run and tie the game at 2-2. J.D. Martinez, who struck out with the bases loaded on three Madson fastballs a night earlier, singled in front of Puig in right to score Betts and Benintendi and give Boston a 4-2 lead.
Red Sox take the lead!
J.D. Martinez smashes a 2-out single to drive in 2 runs! pic.twitter.com/vtxsTbwIbs
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 25, 2018
Price was pulled after six strong innings, allowing just three hits, two runs and three walks while striking out five and throwing 88 pitches, earning his first World Series win. Price’s World Series effort comes on the heels of his shutdown performance against the Astros in Game 5 last Thursday in Houston. He became just the fourth Red Sox pitcher in history to throw at least six innings and allow two or fewer runs and three or fewer hits in consecutive postseason starts, and the first since Derek Lowe in 2004. Pedro Martinez (1999) and Jim Lonborg (1967) are the other two.
Joe Kelly offered up a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Eovaldi threw a perfect eighth and Craig Kimbrel took care of business in the ninth as Red Sox pitchers retired the final 16 Dodgers for the win.
