This week, Boston Red Sox celebrated winning the 2018 World Series, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1. Ahead of their visit to London Stadium for the ‘London Series’ tie against New York Yankees, here’s how they won a fourth series title in 15 years.
Dodgers’ pitcher Clayton Kershaw opened the series in Game One, becoming the first pitcher to start the first game of a World Series in back-to-back years since Cliff Lee did in 2009. It was a topsy-turvy beginning to the series until Eduardo Nunez hit a pinch-three home run in the seventh to take the Red Sox to an 8-4 lead, clinching them the first win of the series.
The following two encounters were more tense affairs with Red Sox and Dodgers taking one a piece, but both historical in their own way. A 4-2 win at Fenway Park for Red Sox was their 100th post-season win in franchise history. Dodgers’ 3-2 success went into overtime, 18 innings. Matt Muncy hit a walk-off home run off Nathan Eovaldi, tying it for latest walk-off home run in post-season history. The total of 18 innings, seven hours and 20 minutes meant this contest was the longest World Series game ever, in both innings and time.Â
Game Four was crucial, the Dodgers at home and a win away from tying the series. Red Sox’s Eduardo Rodriguez was the sixth pitcher in history to start a World Series game with zero days rest, following his pitched in relief in Game Three. It took six innings for the first score, it came off a throwing error from Boston’s Christian Vazquez, Yaseil Puig then hit a three-run home run to take the Dodgers 4-0 up. Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce score homers to bring Red Sox level, then they sealed a comeback in the ninth. Doubles from Pearce, Brock Holt and a single from Rafael Devers saw Boston prevail 9-6, a vital result on their way to the World Series.
Steve Pearce followed his four RBI’s in Game Four by adding two more home runs at Dodger Stadium in a glorious win for Red Sox, he won World Series MVP Award. Chris Sale got Manny Machado to strike out on a pitch and the series was Red Sox, David Price started the game and took a second win in the series when starting.
Boston Red Sox win the World Series a century after they beat Chicago Cubs for the title, the first team to do so. The Dodgers are the first side since Texas Rangers in 2011 to lose consecutive fall series’, Red Sox reign supreme.
