Pitching on just two days rest, Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price yielded a home run on the first pitch of Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday, but followed with six scoreless innings as his teammates knocked four home runs and the franchise secured its ninth Major League title with a 5-1 win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Boston’s Game 4 hero, Steve Pearce, hit a pair of home runs while Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez added solo home runs of their own for the easy win.
Dodgers first baseman David Freese led off the bottom of the first with a home run, but Price was unflappable afterwards, pitching into the eighth inning.
Price pitched in relief of Game 3 on Friday, and was slated to take the hill if the series went to Game 6 in Boston on Tuesday. Red Sox ace Chris Sale was expected to get the nod, but manager Alex Cora opted instead for Price.
Sale actually pitched in relief in the ninth inning, and was on the mound when Boston won its fourth World Series title over the last 15 years.
The Red Sox previously had five World Series titles, all of which were won before the franchise sold Babe Ruth to the rival New York Yankees after the 1919 season. Although the franchise came close several times, Boston did not win a World Series between 1919 and 2003.
For the Dodgers, the frustration continues.
Not only has Los Angeles failed to win a title since 1988, when the Dodgers beat the Oakland Athletics, but the team actually reached the postseason in each of the last six seasons without winning a championship.
The Boston Red Sox celebrate after Game 5 of baseball’s World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday
Boston Red Sox’s Mookie Betts, right, watches his home run off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw
(Left) Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman David Freese (25) celebrates with outfielder Yasiel Puig (66) after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in game five of the 2018 World Series
From left, Actor Matt Damon, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and actor Ben Affleck watch Game 5 of the World Series baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday
(Left) Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price waits as Los Angeles Dodgers’ David Freese rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning (Right) Valente Quintero poses for a picture before Game 5
During the game, a banner was revealed in left field that read: ‘TRANS PEOPLE DESERVE TO LIVE.’ The banner comes in response to the White House’s push to rewrite the United Nation’s Third Committee general assembly policy statements, arguing that the language relating to gender is vague and politically correct
As if the drama of the World Series had not been unpredictable enough, the Red Sox threw out their latest surprise when they named pitcher David Price as the starter ahead of Game 5.
Price ultimately gave up the first-inning home run to Freese, but settled down, and pitched six scoreless innings while allowing two more hits before being removed in the eighth inning.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw retired eight in a row after Steve Pearce’s two-run homer in the first.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed that he had shuffled the pitching rotation following Saturday’s come-from-behind 9-6 win over the Dodgers.
Game One starter Chris Sale was expected to again get the ball but, with the Red Sox leading 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, they turned back to Game Two winner Price.
‘It’s something we talked about before (Game Four). We feel like David is good (for Sunday),’ Cora said.
‘We feel that this is a good spot for David, in a National League park to start a game. Obviously he’s been throwing the ball well.
‘It’s not that we’re playing with the lead, but we feel that for the team, for where we’re at pitching-wise, it’s good to go with David.’
Cora has rarely been second-guessed during a post-season run that has featured 10 wins to just three losses. This move, however, did set off alarm bells – mainly about the health of Sale, who missed a start in the American League Championship series due to a stomach illness.
‘Chris is okay,’ Cora said. ‘Actually, he’ll be back there. If necessary in Game 6, he’s the starter.’
While Sale did not take the field during the team’s win on Saturday, he was certainly active. He was seen yelling at his team mates after the Red Sox fell behind 4-0 to the Dodgers, and Boston credited him for sparking the rally.
‘Oh, my god, he was mad at us. I think that kind of lit a fire under everybody,’ Red Sox infielder Brock Holt said. ‘We didn’t want to see him mad anymore. So we decided to start swinging the bats a little bit.’
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes waits at the plate as Boston Red Sox’s J.D. Martinez scores after hitting a solo home run against Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw during the seventh inning of Game 5
Boston’s Steve Pearce is congratulated by teammates Andrew Benintendi and J.D. Martinez after homering in the first inning
For Price, Sunday was another opportunity to continue to slay his post-season demons. The 33-year-old, in the midst of a seven-year, $217 million contract, earned his first playoff win in 12 tries during the ALCS.
As always, Dodger Stadium was filled with celebrities for a World Series game.
Actor Ben Affleck join friends Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel, both of whom were wearing ‘I’m with stupid’ t-shirts with arrows pointed at each other. Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax was also in the crowd.
Other celebrities in attendance were game show host Pat Sajak, former Major League player and manager Joe Torre, and former San Diego Padres and New York Yankees slugger Dave Winfield.
During the game, a banner was revealed in left field that read: ‘TRANS PEOPLE DESERVE TO LIVE.’
The banner comes in response to the White House’s push to rewrite the United Nation’s Third Committee general assembly policy statements, arguing that the language relating to gender is vague and politically correct.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw sits in the dugout during the seventh inning
Dodgers Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax was in attendance for Game 5 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Sunday
Former Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and his ex-Boston Red Sox rival David Ortiz attend Sunday’s Game 5
BOSTON’S GAME 4 RALLY HAS SOX EYEING 9th TITLE
By The Associated Press
An 18-inning loss in Game 3 of the World Series couldn’t wear out the Boston Red Sox. A four-run deficit late in Game 4 definitely didn’t faze them.
This plucky powerhouse just kept getting big hits to move to the brink of another championship.
Steve Pearce hit a tying homer in the eighth inning and a three-run double in the ninth, and the Red Sox emphatically rallied for a 9-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.
Boston Red Sox’s Steve Pearce celebrates his solo home run to tie the game during the eighth inning in Game 4 of the World Series
Pinch-hitter Rafael Devers singled home Brock Holt with the tiebreaking run in the ninth as Boston roared to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
Less than a day after a wrenching, 440-minute defeat ended well past midnight, the Red Sox trailed 4-0 in the seventh inning before they shook off that heartbreak, warmed up their bats and sped away from LA.
‘I’ve never been on a team where you just get punched in the face and then come back tomorrow and act like they are totally fine,’ Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez said. ‘It’s impressive.’
Soon after Yasiel Puig’s three-run homer in the sixth put the Dodgers up by four, Boston’s incredible surge began with pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland’s three-run homer in the seventh. By the time they were done decimating the Dodgers’ bullpen, six Red Sox had combined for seven hits – four for extra bases.
‘It was just a great night, all the way around,’ Pearce said. ‘A great team win. A much-needed win, especially after what happened (in Game 3). I just love this team’s fight.’
The Red Sox scored just two runs in their first 24 innings at Dodger Stadium, but added nine more in the final three innings of Game 4. Sale’s motivational screams in the dugout might have played a role, but whatever the reason, Boston responded splendidly to a perilous situation.
‘Sometimes in October we talk about mechanics, and how you feel at the plate and all that, (but) sometimes it’s will,’ rookie manager Alex Cora said. ‘You will yourself to do great things. And it started very simple. A few good at-bats, and then the big swing, and we kept rolling and we didn’t stop playing.’
Fans pose for a picture by a championship ring before Game 5 of the World Series between the Red Sox and Dodgers
President of Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox Dave Dombrowski sits in the team’s dugout before Game 5
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser – a member of the 1988 title-winning Dodgers – throws out the first pitch
Fans cheer in Game Five of the 2018 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox
A Boston Red Sox fan arrives before Game 5 of the World Series as his team seeks its ninth Major League title