Red Sox One Win Away From Title
A never die attitude from the Boston Red Sox has Boston looking to seize the moment it’s worked all season long for while leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers reeling.
It would be ‘the other guys’ doing the damage for the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.
The Boston Red Sox used a late rally in the later innings to down the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6 on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium in Game 4 of the World Series to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Steve Pearce tied the game in the eighth inning with a home run off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who gave up a homer the previous night to Jackie Bradley Jr.
After a one-out double by Brock Holt in the ninth inning, Rafael Devers would record an RBI double to help Boston complete a late comeback in L.A. from four runs down.
Following an intentional walk to Mookie Betts and a infield single by Andrew Benintendi with two outs, Pearce would put Boston up for good with a bases clearing double in the gap in right field to give Boston a four-run lead that became a five-run lead after the inning.
Boston scored nine runs unanswered to stun the Dodgers home faithful, who saw their late edge disappear in a matter of minutes.
The Red Sox recorded only one hit through nearly seven innings.
Their second hit of the game, a three-run homer by Mitch Moreland off Ryan Madson with two outs in the seventh inning, brought them within a run.
Boston collected seven hits over the final two and a third innings, coming alive when it mattered most as they had come close to seeing their 2-0 lead wasted.
Between the two teams early on, it appeared Boston’s offense looked like they were suffering the effects of the 18 inning marathon the night before.
They were handcuffed offensively by veteran left-hander Rich Hill.
Rich Hill continued the Dodgers starting pitching dominance at home in the postseason as Hill mystified the Red Sox excellent lineup in his fourth start of this postseason.
The 38-year-old veteran would go on to allow one run on one hit and three walks while striking out seven over six and two-thirds innings.
Boston received a strong start from Edwin Rodriguez up until he was beat on a 3-1 pitch with two outs in the sixth.
While his three-run homer surrendered by Yasiel Puig dampened his start to a degree, Rodriguez gave the Red Sox an opportunity a night after wild circumstances forced would-be Game 4 starter Nathan Eovaldi into six innings in extra innings in Game 3.
Rodriguez finished the game allowing four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five and two-thirds innings.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora saw a gamble leaving in Edwin Rodriguez with a rising pitch count backfire, but what didn’t was the resiliency of his ball club which once again showed in the biggest moments of this game.
A move that would’ve been second guessed by many serves as a mere footnote now.
Boston is a win away from lifting their ninth world championship in franchise history.
Game 4 marked the first time in Boston Red Sox franchise history that they have ever come back from a four-run deficit in the seventh inning or later.
With their ace going on the mound in Game 5, they’ll look to secure their fourth world title since 2004.
For Dave Roberts, a day after playing the equivalent of two games in a 18 inning marathon, it was his team that showed the better poise, focus and execution for much of Game 4 until a nightmarish final three innings put Los Angeles on the brink.
Kenley Jansen has not been good here in the World Series, something that was a must considering the opponent.
In back-to-back games now he has blown late leads in the eighth inning on home run balls.
The inability of Scott Alexander to throw a strike to a lefty coupled with Ryan Madson, Kenta Maeda and others not being able to limit the damage cost Los Angeles dearly.
The Dodgers haven’t scored runs for much of this series without a home run, so when a four-run lead is lost in the manner that was on Saturday night, it’s a nail in the coffin to those relievers psych who allowed the comeback to manifest itself.
A complete 180 from a night ago when the bullpen outside of Kenley Jansen could do no wrong, they did everything to lose Game 4 which puts Los Angeles in a uncomfortable situation.
The only team to ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in World Series history are the 16′ Chicago Cubs vs the Cleveland Indians, who won Game 5 at home before winning the final two games in Cleveland.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw to the mound on Sunday night as he will be opposed by left-hander Chris Sale in a pivotal Game 5.
Who has the edge now in the World Series? Leave your comments below!