Postgame
So the home team go up a game to none but it could have been different. LA made mistakes and had their chances still, hanging in until Nunez pinch hit blast bought breathing room for Boston.
Really, the Red Sox showed why they are so difficult to beat: the offense just never stops and tires out opposing pitchers with their depth.
Sale battled, Kershaw crumbled. You can read all about it in our game report here.
Now David Price gets the ball for Boston, Hyun-Jin Ryu for LA. Both have points to prove.
We will be back for Game 2 coverage, but that’s it for now: thanks for reading!
Wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon, and good night.
Updated
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, Final
Kimbrel, long beard v Turner, longer beard. Different shades of red. A real battle and a full count.
There can only be one, and it’s Kimbrel.
It’s all over in Boston, Game 1 to the Red Sox!
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, top 9th
Muncy, he’s destroyed.
Two down.
Here’s Turner.
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, top 9th
Here is Craig Kimbrel on to close this out.
Will this be one of those wild Kimbrel rides? Or will he blow the Dodgers into Game 2?
The crowd chants “beat LA”, which I think we’ve heard before from Boston, somewhere...
Pederson bounces to first. One down.
Now Muncy is down in the count 0-2.
This is looking like the good Kimbrel.
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, bottom 8th
Now Betts strikes out, caught looking.
It’s the turn of Andrew Benintendi, who is quickly retired for the first time tonight on a ground ball to second.
And that’s it - to the top of the ninth we go!
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, bottom 8th
Wood gets Bradley Jr to wave through a fastball and that’s the first out.
Now Betts is back in the box, looking for tack on runs.
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, bottom 8th
Leon leads off with a single to center off Alex Woods, who is still in there. Now Bradley Jr. steps in.
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, top 8th
The crowd are very excited and on their feet in Boston, and with good reason. It’s 1-2 to Puig and they’re up big.
Puig grounds into the hole, deep: Bogaerts has it and makes a strong throw, in time to get Puig. He makes it look easy!
On to Boston’s eighth!
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, top 8th
Hernandez bounces to short: he’s running hard but Bogaerts fires in time to get the Dodgers outfielder.
Two down.
Now Puig.
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, top 8th
Nathan Eovaldi is in and getting to work on Kemp, retiring the outfielder on a grounder to short. One down.
Here’s Hernandez.
Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, bottom 7th
Kinsler pops out to second, inning over. A costly frame for LA.
Updated
HOME RUN! Dodgers 4-8 Red Sox, bottom 7th
Remember a moment ago when I said it doesn’t feel like a one-run game?
Well, the pinch-hitting Nunez just made it a four-run game with a three-run jack over the monster in left!
I am guessing Baez wasn’t overpowering at all? (ouch)
John Smoltz of FOX TV in the US reminds us that’s yet another two-out delivery from the Sox.
True story.
@LengelDavid Thanks for the follow #WorldSeries2018 from the Republic of Georgia #donateGuardian #peacecorps
— Doris Cahill (@CahillDoris) October 24, 2018
You’re gonna be tired tomorrow. That’s OK, because in October at least, sleep is overrated!
Dodgers 4-5 Red Sox, bottom 7th
Baez rears back and offers more of that hot buttered popcorn and Moreland is toast.
This makes Magic Johnson very happy: TV cameras show him clapping with delight.
But that’s it for Baez, who is deemed done after three batters (counting the international walk, which counts but not really).
Devers will face Wood when we resume. Cue the organ...
Dodgers 4-5 Red Sox, bottom 7th
It’s 1-2 to Bogaerts, and the shortstop wastes a fastball, hanging in against the overpowering righty.
Dodgers 4-5 Red Sox, bottom 7th
Left handed Mitch Moreland is off the bench to face Baez. He sails a chunk of cheddar high in the zone past him, sending Moreland back where he came from.
It doesn’t feel like a one-run game for some reason, but it is. Shouldn’t the Sox have more runs? LA have stranded seven...but I digress.
Roberts walks Martinez with first base open, so it’s two on and one out for Bogaerts, who is 0-2 tonight.
Updated
Dodgers 4-5 Red Sox, bottom 7th
Urias is still in there, facing Benintendi. He skies to left, it’s trouble for Pederson and the ball drops in and then out of play!
That’s a double, and the fourth hit for Benintendi, who needless to say, with three hits off his fellow lefty Kershaw, is having quite a spectacular evening. Lefties really should stick together, right?
Urias is out, Roberts wants Pedro Baez.
It's stretch time in Boston!
This one is for J.R. in Illinois! Don’t hate me!
PS, the guy is from Brooklyn. Doesn’t he remember 1916!
Dodgers 4-5 Red Sox, top 7th
Bellinger pops it up: Bradley is under it and he doesn’t miss. Threat over, inning over.
Boston survive some major moments.
Dodgers 4-5 Red Sox, top 7th
It’s top-step stuff at Fenway...and 2-0 to Bellinger.
RUN! Dodgers 4-5 Red Sox, top 7th
Machado is another Dodger who puts the ball in play: what a revelation! It’s a sac-fly that scores Muncy and brings LA to within a single run!
Alex Cora comes out to get Brasier, and in comes Eduardo Rodriguez. He’s a lefty, which is no coincidence: he’s getting set to face Cody Bellinger, who is 0-1 tonight with a strikeout.
Another big at-bat coming your way. Two on, two out: stick with us!
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, top 7th
It’s 3-0 to Grandal, which seems impossible the way he’s been going.
Now it’s 3-1 afgter Brasier delivers a strike down Broadway.
His next offering is outside, and the Cuban takes a walk to load the bases.
Manny Machado to the plate for the at-bat of this ballgame.
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, top 7th
And Dodgers fans are answered with more of that - another base hit, this time from Turner who has a badly needed knock. Now it’s another pinch hitter: the struggling Grandal.
All these pinch hitters used willy nilly: amazing what you can do in the AL. Their bench is empty in the seventh, not that it matters.
Updated
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, top 7th
Muncy is making Brasier work: it’s 3-2.
Really something to watch a Dodger hitter lay off pitches in the dirt.
That is a quality at-bat and Muncy is rewarded with a base hit through the hold on the right side, through the shift.
Dodger fans say more of that please.
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, top 7th
Ryan Brasier is in for Kelly, who faces Joc Pederson, who replaces Barnes.
The pinch hitter grounds to short. Now here is Max Muncy, who is replacing Dozier.
Now, shouldn’t we have sen Muncy earlier when the Dodgers were threatening in the fifth inning?
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, bottom 6th
Betts pops up to Freese over at first: strong inning for the recovering from injury, one-time Mexican phenom from Sinaloa.
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, bottom 6th
There’s a. lot to like about Urias, who by the way, has glasses, just like Kelly.
He strikes out Bradley Jr. Now Betts is up.
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, bottom 6th
Urias is on to pitch for LA. He is a bad, bad man. And a lefty.
He strikes out Leon on a bouncer in the dirt to start the Boston sixth.
Updated
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, top 6th
Puig bounces to first, and it’s an easy inning for Kelly.
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, top 6th
Joe Kelly and his glasses are on to pitch for the Sox.
He throws hard for a guy who can’t see without glasses.
Gulp.
Kemp strikes out, Hernandez strikes out.
Kelly is dealing, hitting 100mph, twice. He’s facing Puig and it’s 1-2...
Updated
The weather
FOX US commentators Joe Buck and John Smoltz are talking about how cold it is and how LA aren’t used to playing in the cold. I really don’t think players give a crap about weather. They are working, sweating, moving. Not on a football level, but still. They are not sitting in a cold broadcast booth sipping on cup-o-noodles. This is something TV people like to talk about but I just don’t think it plays into it.
Sorry, was that rude?
Updated
Clayton Kershaw
Oy vey:
4+IP 7H 5R 5ER 3BB 5K 0HR
I know this isn’t really the time or the place, but it is worth mentioning that this Kershaw start could be the last we see of him in Dodger blue.
But that’s getting ahead of ourselves in quite a major way.
Updated
Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, bottom 5th
Kinsler lines to right and Puig has it. Inning over.
And to think, it all started with a lead off walk. One of these days I’d love to talk to you about just how serious those can be.
Stand by for the Kershaw line
RUN! Dodgers 3-5 Red Sox, bottom 5th
Ground ball through the right side: Benentendi scores! It’s a two-out base hit, which is something Boston seem to do often, and the Sox add to their lead!
Amazing what you can do when you don’t strikeout!
Kershaws’ line just got ugly.
Updated
RUN! Dodgers 3-4 Red Sox, bottom 5th
Bouncer to short, hit hard but not hard enough.
Machado throws to Dozier at second for one, but Bogaerts beats the throw by a half-step!
The Sox have the lead, and LA only barely missed out on sneaking out of this jam...
...but the inning continues. Runners at the corners and two down for Devers.
Barnes blocked a pitch that nearly cost LA a run...now the catcher spends a mound visit to talk to Madson.
Some inning is this.
Dodgers 3-3 Red Sox, bottom 5th
Swung on and missed, strike three! Absolutely huge out as Martinez heads to the bench with oooo’s and aaaah’s.
It’s Bogaerts’ turn: he’s 0-2 and always a real threat.
Dodgers 3-3 Red Sox, bottom 5th
Huge cut on an 0-1 fastball is swung on and missed. Here it is, hit it!
It’s 0-2!
Dodgers 3-3 Red Sox, bottom 5th
Eight scary words for LA:
The bases are loaded and nobody is out
here’s a few more: JD Martinez is at the plate!
Dodgers 3-3 Red Sox, bottom 5th
First pitch from Madson is in the dirt and past Barnes! Now the runners advance!
I was just about to say, this was not the night Kershaw had in mind, which we’ve said before when it comes to the Dodgers ace in the playoffs. Not that the Sox aren’t an enormous challenge, on a strange mound, in a strange park in a strange city...
Now it’s 3-0 to Pearce. The Fenway crowd smells blood.
Dodgers 3-3 Red Sox, bottom 5th
Betts to lead it off in a key inning for Kershaw as his pitch count rises.
He walks him.
I can’t even begin to tell you just how bad lead off walks can be...ok, well if you have a minute...
Meanwhile, Ryan Madson gets loose in the Dodgers pen.
Betts leads off the first base bag and is off and running as Benintendi has a base hit to left!
Hernandez cuts it off, keeping Betts from taking third.
Important play is that!
Now Dave Roberts is out, and Kershaw is done!
Two on and nobody out as Steve Pearce awaits Madson.
Chris Sale
He had it, then he didn’t, then he did.
Considering what he’s been through medically, whatever that really was, that he scuffled through four has to be something of a victory for Alex Cora. It’s not what Boston wanted, but it sure could’ve been a lot more messy.
4+IP 5H 3R 3ER 2BB 7K 1HR
Dodgers 3-3 Red Sox, top 5th
Bellinger just gets under it: his fly to right ends the threat, but we’re tied, and at least for now, Kershaw is off the hook.
RUN! Dodgers 3-3 Red Sox, top 5th
Machado grounds to second and that’s enough to score the tying run! Dozier crosses the plate, Turner to third. Two down.
How about LA putting the ball in play: these days we call that old school...
Updated
Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, top 5th
Barnes makes Freese look bad, and Roberts wishing he’d gone to pinch hit with the lefty bopper Max Muncy. Something to potentially debate down the road?
Manny Machado steps in, with Fenway fans clearly understand the moment.
Now a ball in the dirt, Leon blocks the Barnes pitch, but the runners advance!
Now LA can tie the game with a fly ball or a grounder to short.
But it’s 1-2 to Machado, and the fans rise...
Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, top 5th
Now Turner connects for a base hit! The Dodgers are into the bullpen and looking for dividends.
Two on, nobody out for Freese, who is 2-2 with a misplay in the outfield tonight.
Updated
Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, top 5th
Dozier walks to lead off the fifth and here comes Alex Cora with a steady, determined walk.
Sale is done. Matt Barnes is coming in to face Justin Turner. The 28-year-old righty had a whip of over 1.2 in 61.2 regular season innings this year.
He’s been better in the playoffs: his only blip, allowing a solo home run v the Astros. Not bad in six plus innings of work.
I’ll give you the line on Sale when it’s closed. Stand by.
Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, bottom 4th
This is the aces settling in portion of our programme. Kinsler and Leon strike out, and Bradley grounds to first. Kershaw is on 69 pitches.
E-mail:
J.R. in Illinois writes:
“Hey David, I’m not a James Taylor fan either but ‘Sweet Caroline’ is not his song. It’s Neil Diamond of course. It’s not a bad song but it’s been ruined by the Red Sox fans singing it incessantly for God knows how long. I could do with never hearing it again for the rest of my life.”
You’re absolutely right! That’s the brain freelancing key words, thank you for pointing that out! Consider it corrected.
Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, top 4th
Barnes lines out to CF and LA are toast in the fourth.
Huge hat tip to Sale on a night where he’s really had to battle.
Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, top 4th
Now Puig strikes out, and they’re adding up as Sale settles in, and just in time.
Here’s Barnes.
Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, top 4th
Kike Hernandez strikes out, that’s six for Sale.
I should mention that Boston would really prefer if Sale could find a way to stick around for five.
Puig now, he’s down in the count, 1-2...
ICYMI
JD Martinez SHOT to dead center pic.twitter.com/j5PTl4kjGt
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) October 24, 2018
Martinez gives Boston the lead in the home third...
Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, bottom 3rd
So that replay reversal on the would-be DP gives the Sox another chance and they make LA pay. They head to the dugout after Devers strikes out, lead in hand.
RUN! Dodgers 2-3 Red Sox, bottom 3rd
Martinez lifts one to deep center and it’s off the wall! Pearce comes all the way around from first base and the Sox have reclaimed the lead!
There’s more: Martinez’ foot slipped off the bag and he’s a bit shaken up. JD took a big turn and lost his footing, but he’s going to stay in the game.
Now Kershaw walks Bogaerts intentionally and the lefty is going to go after the left, Devers, to try and get out of this two on, two out jam.
Dodgers 2-2 Red Sox, bottom 3rd
Two pitches: the first is a curveball up the up and outside corner of the plate that Kershaw wanted called a strike. It wasn’t. Then a pitch on the inside corner Martinez wanted called a ball. It wasn’t.
The at-bat continues.
Dodgers 2-2 Red Sox, bottom 3rd
Steve Pearce grounds to short - Machado over to second for one - Dozier to first, not in time! I mean, Pearce was called out but the call was reversed.
So the inning is not over despite FOX TV in the US playing its out music, and we’re still here in the third.
JD Martinez is up with two outs and one on, which Kershaw would’ve of preferred to not being doing right now.
Dodgers 2-2 Red Sox, bottom 3rd
Mookie Betts is back in the box facing Kershaw. Or he was: Betts strikes out after flailing at a sinking slider. That’s two strikeouts for Kershaw.
Benintendi now, and the Sox left fielder bloops a base hit into left. Taylor bobbles the ball but the runner doesn’t advance because he was being a bit lazy, if I’m being honest.
One on and one out for Steve Pearce.
Dodgers 2-2 Red Sox, top 3rd
Credit to Sale who limits the damage in the Dodgers third. For a moment, it was looking like the end for the lefty, but he gets Kemp to ground out and end the threat.
Still, he’s not long for this game. Perhaps we’ll see Drew Pomeranz, who was added to the roster for the World Series replacing Steven Wright.
Dodgers 2-2 Red Sox, top 3rd
Taylor is caught looking and that is a huge out there for Sale, who hangs in under duress.
Now he has to face Kemp, who took him deep last time around. Big confrontation right here.
RUN! Dodgers 2-2 Red Sox, top 3rd
Machado drills a base hit to the left side, here comes Tuner around third and we’re tied!
Taylor up for LA, two on, one out.
Updated
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, top 3rd
The count runs full to Freese who slaps it to left, right in front of Benintendi, who fields it on a hop!
Here comes Manny Machado with two on and one out.
Crucial moments for Sale as opportunity knocks for the Dodgers.
He looks gassed to me.
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, top 3rd
Turner goes opposite field, past Kinsler at second base, and the Dodgers have a man on.
Freese is up with a chance to make up for that first inning mistake.
Meanwhile, the pitches pile up for Sale. He’s approaching 60...
Updated
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, top 3rd
Top of the order to ya. Dozier at the plate, he struck out his first time out and is already down 0-2.
He doesn’t strike out, rather, pops harmlessly to left where Benintendi puts it away.
One down. Turner next.
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, bottom 2nd
Bradley rifles ia shot through the legs of Kershaw, and right at Machado! He has it, steps on second base for one out, and then fires to first for the second out!
Two outs, one play - score it 6-3 to end the threat!
The Dodgers dance through the rain drops in the second.
So far the pick off play and that double play are the defensive moments that’ve helped LA hold down potentially big Red Sox innings.
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, bottom 2nd
Kershaw throws a sick curveball that lollipops over the plate and dips into the right corner.
Leon doesn’t care: he slaps an opposite field single to right on the next pitch. Devers holds at third, and runners are at the corners, for Jackie Bradley.
You may remember his who hit that mammoth grand slam against Houston in Game 3 of the ALCS and game winning two-run double in Game 4.
He’s down in the count, 1-2. Betts is on deck.
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, bottom 2nd
Kinsler in the hole 0-2.
Now he is in the dugout as Kershaw’s first strikeout victim of the evening.
Sox backstop Sandy Leon is up with one out and one on.
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, bottom 2nd
Let’s see if LA can avoid giving Boston extra outs and if Kershaw can settle in a bit more comfortably.
Of course, you always want to get that leading lady, but the leading lady Kershaw does not get: it’s a walk to start the Sox second.
Rafael Devers is on first base, and here is Ian Kinsler.
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, top 2nd
Sale is over 50 pitches now, which is great news for LA.
Worse news is that Barnes has become strikeout victim no4.
Inning over.
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, top 2nd
Puig checks his swing, and despite the Sox starting to run in, the first base umpire Kerwin Danley says he didn’t go.
Now the count is full, before Sale’s pitch runs high.
It’s a two-out walk.
Austin Barnes comes to the plate. The catcher is replacing Yasmani Grandal who had an awful NLCS defensively and offensively.
Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, top 2nd
Kike Hernandez grounds out to third and here comes Yasiel Puig with two outs and nobody on.
He’s in the hole 1-2.
HOME RUN! Dodgers 1-2 Red Sox, top 2nd
With the count full, Matt Kemp skies to left...it’s up and over the green monster, and the Dodgers are on the board!
That’ll settle a sour stomach if you’re a Dodgers fan.
It’s a smash hit from Kemp, who hadn’t done much lately despite his productive first half of the season.
Dodgers 0-2 Red Sox, top 2nd
Here is Chris Taylor, the poor left fielder facing the green monster for the first time. Seeing Sale isn’t easy either, especially when he’s running 94mph up and in.
Full count, then Taylor chokes on another slider.
These big swings aren’t going to work against the Sox ace.
I’m already thinking tonight might be a good night to sleep. @RedSox already have enough runs on the board for Sale to defend ...
— Steve Busfield (@Busfield) October 24, 2018
Slow down...
Dodgers 0-2 Red Sox, bottom 1st
Bogaerts pops out to, guess who, David Freese, and that’s the inning.
It wasn’t pretty for LA, but it could have been a whole lot worse.
It goes without saying that the pick off play was absolutely enormous. Heck, I’ll say it anyway...
Dodgers 0-2 Red Sox, bottom 1st
The count runs full to the Dutch shortstop. Kershaw, from the stretch, fires over to first and has Martinez picked off!
Freese fires to Dozier at second to get the Sox slugger, and that is a very big out for a hurler with a rising pitch count.
RUN! Dodgers 0-2 Red Sox, bottom 1st
Martinez drills a Kershaw fastball right up the middle, scoring Benintendi, and the Dodgers ace is under severe pressure.
Bogaerts, the only player left form the 2013 title team, steps in with one out and a runner on.
Dodgers 0-1 Red Sox, bottom 1st
Pearce pops out to shallow right field with Freese making no mistake this time. Here comes Boston’s biggest bopper of them all: JD Martinez.
Replay review
Dave Roberts wants to check of Benintendi slid off the bag when he took second base: the umpires in New York City checking the play say no.
So a run in, Benintendi on second, Pearce at the plate and still nobody out.
Trouble early for LA.
RUN! Dodgers 0-1 Red Sox, bottom 1st
Ground ball past a diving Dozier and it’s a base hit for Benintendi!
Here comes Betts around third, the throw is way off and Benintendi takes second on the throw!
It’s a run from a Dodger miscue and the home team is up early!
Dodgers 0-0 Red Sox, bottom 1st
Betts makes LA pay as one foul pop out turns into a yet another two-strike base hit for Betts. Now Benintendi from the left side v the southpaw Kershaw.
There goes Betts! Benintendi waves at a high fastball and Taylor short-hops the throw to second! Stolen base for Boston, who are putting the pressure on immediately at Fenway.
Dodgers 0-0 Red Sox, bottom 1st
Here comes the would-be should-be AL MVP in Mookie Betts, playing right field tonight. That is a heck of a first test for Kershaw.
Betts lifts one into foul territory on the right side, Freese takes a route that Waze wouldn’t advise and the ball bounces foul.
That’s not what Kershaw is looking for against a player like Betts. Still, the right fielder is in the hole 1-2, which is right where the right fielder likes to be.
Dodgers 0-0 Red Sox, top 1st
Machado lifts a fly ball to left field, short of the monster and into the safe hands of Benintendi.
Side retired, here come the Sox!
Dodgers 0-0 Red Sox, top 1st
Sale runs one up and in at 96mph to put the count at 1-2 to Freese, who then pokes one the other way into right field!
That’s great hitting by Freese who shortened up and adjusted his swing.
Man on for the villain, Manny Machado who spent plenty of time beefing with Boston over the years, torturing the locals with Baltimore, before finally being dealt out west this summer.
Updated
Dodgers 0-0 Red Sox, top 1st
Tuner is strikeout no2, a slider on the inner half of the plate.
Now David Freese is up to strikeout.
Dodgers 0-0 Red Sox, top 1st
Dozier strikes out. Get used to it: LA strikeout, a lot, and Sale throws gas.
If the Dodgers gonna have a chance in this series they’re going to have to find a way to sprinkle in a few hits with runners in scoring position, sometimes known as RISP.
Here’s Justin Turner...
First pitch!
And we’re off. Sale fires down and in to Brian Dozier, who is leading off the World Series’ first all right handed lineup...ever? Is that right?
Prediction...
At a push. The Dodgers are going to get beaten handily in this series.
— George Martin (@Martillo42) October 23, 2018
The starters
As most baseball fans know, really, the only thing Clayton Kershaw is missing in his career is a Madison Bumgarner type shut down World Series, which is an absolutely monumental ask and almost definitely impossible. Surely he’d settle for two solid outings, a seventh game save and a ring.
How will he react to the Fenway mound for the first time?
Meanwhile, Sale missed time this season with arm fatigue, and more recently, depending on who you ask, a sore belly button or a really bad case of the runs. He hasn’t pitched in nine days and was available for a Game 6, supposedly, but those who saw him thought that would have been a tall task.
So big aces with some large question marks heading into first pitch, which really is moments away...seriously.
Updated
The national anthem
Baseball is a no-kneel zone. We get James Taylor instead. It was acoustic, and it was OK. I’m a bit biased because I’m not really a fan of Taylor, but I’ll give it 7.5/10.
Updated
It was 102 years ago...
This is not the first time these clubs have met for all the marbles. Back in 1916, it was the Brooklyn Robins, who were temporarily named after their manager Wilbert Robinson, (I’m glad that doesn’t happen today) and the Boston Red Sox.
Here’s a look at some of the action, sped up and with a water mark. Crystal clear...
The standout for the Robins was Casey Stengel, who played for the Brooks and Giants before managing the Yankees and Mets, making him arguably the most New York figure born in Kansas City, ever.
The Sox had some guy named Ruth pitching in Game 2. The Babe gave up a solo shot in the first inning and then cruised the rest of the way, the start of his famed World Series scoreless streak.
Boston won in five games while playing home games out of Braves Field, which was rented by the Red Sox because it had more seats: this seems like something that happens a lot in Australian Rules Football.
Update: teams being announced
Dave Roberts did in fact get a standing ovation, which is confirmation that romance is not completely dead.
Manny Machado on the other hand was given a good old fashioned roasting by the Fenway faithful.
Clayton Kerhsaw got a hybrid, the kind of crowd feedback that’s more like a collective gulp than anything else.
Home field advantage
Home field advantage
This feels more like a pre-Interleague play World Series. Consider this: Clayton Kershaw has never pitched at Fenway Park. Not once! That’s pretty interesting, as is that LA haven’t ventured to Boston since 2010.
Dodgers coach Bob Geren was speaking before the game about the nooks and crannies the old park and how playing such oddities does take some getting used to. Good thing LF Chris Taylor had about 45 minutes to play with the green monster, and Kike Hernandez had a few ticks to figure out that vast triangle out in center field.
Tack on some drizzly cold weather and the visitors have some unfriendly confines to deal with.
The good news? LA, usually favored and seen as the pushy bully, are actually massive underdogs in this series. So while they really do need to get off that 30-year Fall Classic snide, there really is less pressure than usual.
First pitch is at 809 EST, 109in the UK, stick with us!
First pitch...
The Sox Hall of Fame outfielder Carl Yastrzemski will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch tonight, but that’s not the first pitch I’m thinking about as the Dodgers get set to step in against Chris Sale.
It was 14 years ago, Boston were down three games to none in the ALCS vs the hated New York Yankees. With New York on the verge of ousting the Sox for a second straight season, down a run in the ninth inning, Kevin Millar worked a walk against Mariano Rivera. Terry Francona then summoned Dave Roberts in to pinch run.
The world knew Roberts needed to get to second base and into scoring position, and he skipped the foreplay, stealing second on the very first pitch from Rivera. Bill Mueller’s base hit tied the game and the Sox went on to win in the 12th. They swept the next three games for the most improbable series victory of all time.
For an encore, Boston snapped their 86-year title drought v the St Louis Cardinals.
Now Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will be introduced in front of the Fenway Park crowd for, I believe, the first time since that night in 2004.
How will the hardcore Fenway Faithful react?
It better be with a standing ovation.
Alex Cora’s ovation is guaranteed. The Sox’ rookie manager played with Roberts as Dodgers many moons ago, and the pair represent the first time two minority managers will face off in World Series history.
Updated
Hola
Welcome to our live coverage of the 114th World Series!
Quick recap of how we got here:
The Dodgers pushed passed the Brewers in seven National League Championship Series games, while the Red Sox crushed the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros in five ALCS games.
Such results prevented a match-up that would have looked more like a mid-August camp day game rather than the monster Fall Classic MLB have cooked up for all of us.
We’ve got two of the most historic teams in North America, two of the most picturesque stadiums on the planet, and Game 1 features two of the best pitchers in the galaxy in Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale. Their uniforms are also some of the best in the universe.
Yes, it’s a made for tv match-up that won’t get, say, get the 50m viewers of the 2016 Cubs/Indians Game 7, but will most certainly carry major clout on screens in the US and abroad, especially if the Series goes long.
We’ll have more pre-game fodder before the 2018 World Series gets going from Fenway Park, but for now, get your foie gras and Chateau Cheval Blanc ready and settle in for the long haul!
Fall Classic baseball is coming right up.
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And tonight’s line-ups are in. Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale will be your starting pitchers for the Dodgers and Red Sox respectively:
Game One Lineups are set. #MLBTonight#WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/k9cXJ2AncN
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 23, 2018
The Brewers nearly made it this far, instead they get...
In possibly the worst consolation prize of all time, Miller Park gets an Ed Sheeran concert instead of the World Series. pic.twitter.com/JPPknU81k7
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) October 23, 2018
David will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s his prediction for the series:
It appears nothing can stop the Red Sox. Not even that ropey bullpen: Boston relievers actually improved against the Yankees and Astros. Meanwhile, Boston’s boppers have scored even more runs per game in October than they did in the regular season. Yes, even with Mookie Betts at second base, Boston are favorites.
Unlike the Sox, the Dodgers have real, sky-high stakes: Los Angeles haven’t won a World Series title in 30 years. After the season, Clayton Kershaw, could opt out and take his future hall-of-fame pitching talents elsewhere. So yes, the Dodgers need to win now, badly.
Can they? Well, yes. They’ve had to scrap to get where they are: LA were nine games back on 1 May, and slowly recovered before finally pushing past the pesky Colorado Rockies in game 163.
Now, after seeing off a team of destiny in the Milwaukee Brewers, the Dodgers are pressing for more. They strike out plenty, but unlike the Yankees, proved they can pivot in a pinch. Dodger power is as advertised: Roberts often fields lineups with seven hitters with over 20 home runs, setting them up nicely for DH games in Boston. LA are loaded with talented pitching, including, of course, Kershaw, who is desperate for that elusive ring. I think he gets it. Dodgers to win in seven.
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