BOSTON _ David Price didn't downplay his accomplishment last Thursday in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, when he finally earned his first postseason victory as a starter.
"Definitely a weight lifted off of me for sure," Price said Tuesday before the start of the World Series. "Not like food tastes better or anything like that. But it was time. And I'm definitely glad that the time came and we moved past it. And I look forward to doing the same thing tomorrow."
The left-hander did just that, winning a second straight October start, this time on the biggest stage of all.
Price, making his first World Series start, threw six good innings in leading the Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Dodgers in Game 2 in front of 38,644 at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series that after an off day Thursday resumes at Dodger Stadium Friday night.
The Red Sox took the lead for good in a three-run fifth inning that was capped by J.D. Martinez's two-out, two-run single that made it 4-2. They are 5-0 on the road this postseason, winning twice at Yankee Stadium in the Division Series, then three times in Houston in the ALCS.
Price threw six scoreless innings in the Game 5 clincher against the defending champion Astros. He allowed two runs, three hits and three walks and struck out five Wednesday night. He allowed both runs and all three hits in the fourth inning and retired the last seven batters he faced.
Boston got more standout work from its bullpen as Joe Kelly and Nathan Eovaldi pitched scoreless innings, handing things off to Craig Kimbrel. The closer pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu was coming off a disastrous Game 6 start in the NLCS against the Brewers, when he allowed five runs and seven hits over three innings. He wasn't much better against the Red Sox, giving up four runs and six hits over 42/3 innings. He also received no help from his bullpen, primarily Ryan Madson, who allowed three inherited runners to score after allowing two inherited runners to come in the night before in an 8-4 loss in Game 1.
Brian Dozier grounded out to third on Price's first pitch of the 47-degree night. (It was 42 by game's end.) Price struck out Justin Turner looking a fastball, walked David Freese and got Manny Machado to pop to first to end the 13-pitch inning.
After Price struck out two in a 1-2-3, 13-pitch second, the Red Sox took the lead.
Xander Bogaerts belted a 1-and-1 change-up off the Monster in left-center for a double. Rafael Devers struck out but Ian Kinsler lashed a 0-and-2 cutter for a single to left, which brought in Bogaerts and improved Boston to 16-for-38 in the playoffs with two outs and runners in scoring position. The Red Sox are 9-0 this postseason when scoring first. Jackie Bradley Jr. singled to center but Kinsler was thrown out trying for third to end the inning.
The Dodgers took their first lead of the Series in the fourth. Freese picked up their first hit with a sinking liner to right, Machado singled to left-center and Chris Taylor walked to load the bases. Matt Kemp, who homered in Game 1, lifted a sacrifice fly to center to tie it at 1. Kike Hernandez battled for nine pitches but struck out on a 93-mph fastball. But Yasiel Puig hit a first-pitch fastball for a soft single to center, bringing in Machado to make it 2-1. After Puig's hit, the Dodgers' last 16 batters went down in order.
Ryu retired seven straight before Christian Vazquez's two-out single in the fifth. Mookie Betts followed with his second of his three hits, which brought up Andrew Benintendi. The left fielder, coming off a four-hit Game 1, walked to load the bases.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was burned the night before when he hooked Pedro Baez for Alex Wood, who allowed a three-run homer to pinch hitter Eduardo Nunez. He called on Madson to face the righty-hitting Steve Pearce. He walked on five pitches, forcing in Vazquez to tie it at 2.
