Red Sox Take Game Four, One Win Away From World Series Title

Courtesy of Creative Commons

By Tyler Englander 10/28/2018

The Red Sox did what they do all year when they face adversity, they score and score a lot.

The Red Sox looked destined to lose their second game in a row following an emotional 18 inning loss in Game Three and were down 4-0 heading into the seventh inning in Game Four. Things changed when pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland unloaded on a Ryan Madson offering, hitting a mammoth three-run homer. Steve Pearce added a solo home run off of Dodger closer Kenley Jansen in the eighth to tie the score at 4. In the ninth, the Sox would score five runs with Steve Pearce once again having the big hit, a bases-clearing double. The Sox closed out the 9-6 victory and are one win away from their 4th World Championship in the last 14 years.

Eduardo Rodriguez started this game for the Sox after appearing in relief Friday. He was brilliant for 5 innings, but in the sixth Alex Cora decided to stick with his laboring starter and it cost the Sox. Rodriguez gave up four runs including a big three-run homer to Yasiel Puig. Fellow lefty Rich Hill was also good for the Dodgers giving up one run in 6.1 innings pitched. The Red Sox were happy to see him go and pounced on the Dodger bullpen. Six Dodger relievers combined to give up eight runs in 2.2 innings of work.

Cora dropped a bit of a bombshell at his postgame press conference saying that David Price will start Game Five instead of Chris Sale. Cora said Sale is healthy and available for Game Five, but one has to wonder if he is 100%. Price was brilliant in Game Two giving up two runs in six innings. The Dodgers counter with future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw who struggled in Game One. It’s fitting that Price, who has changed the narrative about his postseason struggles, has a chance to pitch the Red Sox to a World Series Title.