Triumph Books - The Rest is History: Boston Red Sox: 2018 World Series Champions

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2018 World Series

World Series | Game 1

October 23, 2018 Boston, Massachusetts

Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4

The Jump Off

Red Sox Overpower Kershaw and the Dodgers in 8-4 Win

A pitching duel turned into another affair altogether in Game 1 of the 2018 World Series, won by the Red Sox 8-4 at historic Fenway Park.

Clayton Kershaw started for the Dodgers, Chris Sale started for the Red Sox a marquee pitching matchup if ever one existed, right?

Neither offense bought the hype.

Riding a four-game winning streak, the hot Red Sox struck first against the Dodgers three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Mookie Betts singled to lead off the first then stole second and scored when Andrew Benintendi singled to right. Yasiel Puigs throw from right field missed the cutoff man, which allowed Benintendi to go to second on the play. One out later, J.D. Martinez singled to left to score Benintendi and put the Red Sox up 2-0.

It started with Mookie putting a good at-bat together, and then just getting ahead early, Benintendi said. Weve been trying to do that all postseason, and for the most part it seems like weve been able to do that so far. Maybe it puts pressure on them right away, but hopefully we can keep doing it.

Facing Kershaw presented several problems to the Red Soxs order.

Yeah, I mean, obviously were facing a guy whos one of the best of all time, Benintendi said. And a lot of guys didnt have a lot of experience off of him; the first time a lot of us have faced him. Didnt really know what to expect.

While the Red Sox didnt know what to expect, Benintendi felt as though his team had a good game plan.

Mookie Betts scores on an RBI single by Andrew Benintendi during the first inning of Game 1. Betts scored two runs from the leadoff spot in the game.

We stuck to it, Benintendi said. It started with Mookie. And just trying to tack on runs one at a time. And we tried not to give away at-bats. And it seemed like for most of the year up until now weve had good at-bats the entire game, and dont give any away. Just to get him in the zone and try not to chase. I dont want to say too much. Well probably face him again. But we swung at strikes for the most part, and caught a few bad breaks, honestly.

Sale had been hospitalized during the American League Championship Series with an unspecified stomach ailment (True story or not, he told reporters he had an infection due to a belly-button ring). That malady caused the Red Sox ace to miss his scheduled Game 5 start in the ALCS. So, there were concerns about how he might perform in the opening game of the World Series. But the blade-thin lefty started strong, striking out the first two batters he faced.

Matt Kemp got the Dodgers on the scoreboard when he homered with one out in the second. Manny Machado singled home another run in the third to tie the score at 2.

Typifying the Red Soxs season, they answered in the bottom half of the inning when Martinez doubled home Steve Pearce to take a 3-2 lead.

Andrew Benintendi hits an RBI double off of Clayton Kershaw in the first inning of the Game 1 win.

The back and forth would continue in the fifth, with Kershaw and Sale each confronting their own demons.

Sales came in the form of an elevated pitch count.

Following a strong fourth inning that saw Sale retire the Dodgers in order, two by swinging strikeouts, he walked the leadoff batter in the fifth.

After Brian Dozier took his free pass, Cora went to the mound and signaled for the bullpen. Sale had thrown 91 pitches to that point.

That was good stuff today, said Cora of Sale. He did a good job taking pitches and fouling off pitches. But stuff-wise, probably the best in the postseason. And he feels really good, no problems with the belly button. So thats a plus. Hell be okay for the next one.

Matt Barnes took over for Sale in the fifth and the Dodgers pushed across the tying run when Machado grounded out to drive home Dozier.

The breakdown of Chris Sales throwing motion during the fourth inning of Game 1. Sale pitched only four innings but did have seven strikeouts in the no decision.

Once again, the Red Sox answered in the bottom half of the inning. After Mookie Betts drew a leadoff walk, Benintendi singled to left to drive home Betts and chase Kershaw, who struggled with his command.

I dont think he had the fastball command that he typically does, missing up in the zone, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. I dont think his slider had the depth that were used to seeing. And those guys, to their credit, they put some good at-bats on him. And we didnt play the defense that we typically do. I thought we left some outs out there. And it didnt make Claytons job any easier.

Ryan Madson took over for Kershaw and surrendered an RBI single to Rafael Devers that pushed the Red Soxs lead to 5-3. The home team would not trail again.

When you can score right after they score, it kind of takes the breath out of them, or at least thats how we feel I guess if that were to happen to us, Benintendi said. Its huge. It gets the momentum back on your side.

Pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunezs three-run homer off Alex Wood in the seventh broke open the game, giving the Red Sox an 8-4 lead, which would prove to be the final margin.

You know, in the beginning I thought it was going to be a single, because the ball [was going] so high and I know it wasnt a slow ball, Nunez said. And when I see the ball is going, I was excited, because I didnt expect the ball going away.

...I think that was the best feeling for a player, see all the fans. They paid tickets to watch us to play and be crazy. In that situation I think thats a great feeling for us.

Cora complimented his hitters, noting they had some good at-bats.

A lot of good at-bats together, Cora said. From the first at-bat we put pressure on them. And thats what we do. We stayed off the edges of the strike zone, we attacked pitches in the middle of the zone, and we did an outstanding job offensively.

Eduardo Nunez celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning of the 8-4 win.

World Series | Game 2

October 24, 2018 Boston, Massachusetts

Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2

Applying Pressure

Price Steps Up Again and Red Sox Take Commanding 2-0 Series Lead