Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
David Lengel

World Series Game 3: Boston Red Sox 2-3 Los Angeles Dodgers – as it happened!

Max Muncy celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk off solo home run
Max Muncy celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk off solo home run. Photograph: Richard Mackson/USA Today Sports

It was real...

PS...

This is how it finally ended!

Postgame

You have to feel a new, deep, excruciating level of bad for Eovaldi, who deserves something very very good, from somebody, after pitching the game of his life. For it to end like that must be a new form of crushing we have yet to experience.

The Dodgers are the ultimate escape artists to win this historic game, one which will be talked about for a very long time: even longer than the seven hours and 20 minutes it took to play it.

If you were with us for the entire game, you are a crazy person: thank you! For other readers who cheated, shame on you!

We’ll be back with Game 4 coverage in a few hours, but for now, wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and goodnight.

Red Sox 2-3 Dodgers, Final

Muncy hits a drive to left...IS THIS IT? WILL IT BE OVER?

YES IT IS! IT’S A SLEEP-OFF HOME RUN FOR THE WIN!

THE DODGERS SURVIVE AND WE HAVE OURSELVES A WORLD SERIES!

Updated

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 18th

Eovaldi is going to have to start eating his own body to stay alive.

He’s down 3-0 in the count to Muncy...and cruising towards 100 pitches.

Now it’s a full count! This guy!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 18th

Ground ball: and it’s 6-4-3, two outs, one play! Bang bang, andhere come the Dodgers!

Is my dad up? He can’t be up. No way he’s up.



Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 18th

Bogaerts goes fishing at a changeup low and away and it’s a 2-2 count...

Email

Alex writes:

“Boston and Los Angeles in a deadlock going into the 18th inning, this is definitely one for the record books and I’m glad I’m still up watching this game. It’s 3:09am.”

That was ages ago!


Good...very good.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 18th

Betts grounds to short: Machado to second for one, Machado fires to first, not in time. Betts is on base with a fielder’s choice and Bogaerts is at the plate with one down.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 18th

Alex Wood, the hurler who gave up the three-run homer to Nunez in Game 1, is now in this game for LA.

He’s a starter who has been in the pen for a few months.

He’s facing Sandy Leon and he walks him: it’s a lead off walk. I can’t remember if I said this before, but lead off walks are the key ingredient in the recipe for disaster.

Now Betts.

I mean, all we really need now is a rain delay right?

Eovaldi

Eovaldi has this line, in 90 pitches of relief.

6IP 2H 1R 0ER 0BB 5K 0HR

What can you say? I’ve got nothing.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 17th

Turner is down in the count 0-2, of course.

Now he’s struck out.

We are going to the 18th inning. Yep. True story.

Let’s do it!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 17th

Good cut from Kershaw on 0-2, fouled off.

Kershaw made great contact but flew out to right.

Here’s Turner with two down, trying to prevent an 18th inning.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 17th

Eovaldi the martyr is back out for more pain. He’s on 80 pitches, and there’s nobody up in the Boston bullpen.

Anybody remember the job that Walker Buehler did tonight? That was so long ago I almost forgot how to spell his name.

Kike Hernandez leads off.

He pops out in the infield and Clayton Kershaw is coming to the plate in a very serious World Series game...not a video game where you’re messing around and trying to. throw the ball in the stands just to see what happens...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 17th

Little roller to first, Freese has it and tags out Vazquez.

Side retired.

Maybe we should all retire? Maybe one day...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 17th

Suddenly Urias is having trouble locating. It’s 1-0 to Vazquez. The crowd are concerned...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 17th

A two-out walk. So Urias was cruising in the 17th (I’ve always wanted to write that), and now he’s got a base runner.

Christian Vazquez steps in looking to become a Boston folk hero and the answer to a trivia question, all at once! Imagine that?

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 17th

It’s 3-1 to Bradley Jr...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 17th

Maeda survives, Urias enters. Big Mexican lefty with some extremely serious eye-wear. Throws filthy stuff.

He gets Brock Holt to start off the 17th.

The clock strikes 12...in Los Angeles. Brock flies out to center. One down, here is Nunez.

FOX TV in the US are talking weather again. They LOVE that.

Now Nunez pops out. Perhaps the players are getting sleepy?

Now Bradley Jr...who is scary. Don’t fall asleep on him.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 16th

Freese strikes out, and we’re going to the 17th!

I don’t know what to say anymore.

I am out of words. I may mime the rest of the game.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 16th

Barnes flies out to center and it’s up to. David Freese in the 16th. He heads to the plate, looking to add another chapter to his already storied World Series history.

How about it David!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 16th

Puig pops out to third. Here’s Barnes. It’s 2-1.

Email

Stephen from Indianapolis writes:

“Hey, David.

Well, this is quite something, isn’t it?

I don’t know if they were crazy to pitch to Puig or not - if he’d hit a monster over the wall as we all know he’s able then I’d agree. But if Kinsler had not slipped and thus thrown the ball away that would have been the game, what with Puig laboring his way to first with a wardrobe on his back, and the decision would have been justified.

(By the way, not to be a dick but may I gently point out that it’s “border-line”, not “boarder-line”... although I empathize and sympathize trying to type, as I am also, at 2 am).

Thanks for sticking with it!”

You know, I had a funny feeling about border-line. It didn’t feel right. Thanks for the heads up.

The point on Puig is that he hit the ball hard and I don’t know if Barnes, who hit. .205 makes that sort of contact or puts the ball in play. I’m sticking with that.

...and if that didn’t go so well?

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 16th

Maeda strikes out the side! And, I think I’ve said this before, here come the Dodgers to try and end this thing.

Anybody in LA who turns off this game while we are watching in NY, just know I will put a curse on you, believe it!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 16th

Eovaldi caught looking. Two down. Here’s Kinsler swinging for the downs.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 16th

Maeda is back and Bogaerts is down 0-2.

Swing and a miss he got him!

One down: here’s Eovaldi in his second at bat!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 15th

What a pitch from Eovaldi! A lollipop that froze Bellinger, and get this: we’re going to 16!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 15th

Huge cut on a 99mph fastball.! Where is that coming from? How much does he have left?

It’s 2-2.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 15th

Machado is ahead 3-1...

I can’t tell you how much trouble the Red Sox pitching is in. It’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened in baseball. They absolutely have to win tonight.

Full count...then Machado pops out.

We’ve had 17 hits in 14 2/3 innings. That’s not alot of hits.

Here’s Bellinger. Will he send everybody home? This guy is due.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 15th

Now Machado takes a ball to start...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 15th

Muncy strikes out. That is agony, to be that close to going home and to be going back to the dugout instead?

Tough. Very tough.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 15th

The shift is on, and Muncy hits a drive, deep IS IT FAIR? WILL IT BE FAIR?

IT IS...FOUL!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I don’t believe what I just saw...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 15th

Eovaldi remains, because, well, there’s not a whole lot of choice. He’s on 52 pitches.

Muncy, who scored the tying run in the 13th, is back at the plate.

Full count now...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

Betts strikes out - he watched a border-line call go by and somehow the Dodgers have gotten out of that jam!

Betts isn’t happy: he needs to be careful because the Sox bench is empty so he can’t get thrown out arguing balls and strikes or else a starting pitcher will be playing the outfield.

OK, he’s walking back.

Updated

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

In the dirt and Barnes did well to block that ball. This is one intense at-bat. Betts would not bite at the junk. So it’s now 2-2.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

Outside, 1-2. Let’s do it again...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

Betts stares down Maeda before stepping out. Boos from the crowd. Maeda kicks around some dirt as Barnes and co. go out to discuss the book of the month club...and the signs.

Here we go: everybody up!!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

It’s 0-2 to Betts! Wow! He’s a great two-strike hitter though...

Beer

I mean, they would have stopped selling beer like three hours ago. That’s just wrong.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

Leon strikes out! The Dodgers are one out. away from getting out of it...but here comes big bad Mookie Betts, in search of a guess what...

...yet another two-out RBI!

How will it end?

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

Vazquez bunts. Maeda pounces and throws...to THIRD! And they GOT HIM! Nunez is out. Wow! That had to be perfect and it was.

So now a double play ball ends the threat. Leon is up and down in the count 0-2!

Now LA fans are back up and on their feet!

Maeda is here to help you out...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

BALL FOUR! Two on, nobody out.

Go get him NOW! But nobody is warming...ok, fine. Why isn’t Wood warming? Because it’s the 15th inning David.

Vazquez is up...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

Check swing and Bradley held up, it’s 3-1. This has an ugly feeling. Where’s Wood?

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

Maeda doesn’t have it. Bring in Kershaw...or Koufax!

It’s 2-1 to Bradley. Maeda, consistently behind in the count.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

Ground ball and Freese dives to his right: he doesn’t have it, he can’t find it! Nunez is the leadoff man on!

Crazy play (amongst many).

Here’s Jackie Bradley Jr, ALCS MVP. A home run here could put him in the running for World Series MVP.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 15th

OK, well, if you just joined us, you basically missed two World Series baseball games.

Maeda is in now and immediately runs the count 3-0 to Nunez, who should get a purple heart for the battering he’s taken in this game.

But that he is swinging 3-0 against a wild Maeda is totally ridiculous.

And now the count is full. How will it end?

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 14th

Turner skies to right and that’s the inning. On to the 15th!

Seriously.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 14th

It’s 2-0 to Turner!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 14th

Kenta Maeda warms up in the Dodgers bullpen, and meanwhile, Hernandez has a base hit!

So one out and one on for Joc Pederson, whose home run all the way back in the third gave LA the lead...remember that?

Here he pops it up in the infield for out two!

Now it’s up to Justin Turner...

I’d try to steal second. If he’s thrown out, you have Turner to start the 15th inning. If he steals the bag he’s in scoring position with your best hitter at the plate.

Go on...

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 14th

Here’s David Freese, who fans may know has had his share of dramatic World Series moments with St Louis.

Here Eovaldi makes a great play on a line drive comebacker...one down! Wow! To do that at this hour, whao!

It’s Kike Hernandez now...

If we were in Boston right now, that may be the case. Who knows how they would handle that!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 14th

It’s the longest World Series game by time, eclipsing the 5:41 game in 2005. It’s also tied for the longest game in the World Series by innings. And we ain’t done folks.

Especially after Brock Holt strikes out!

Here come the Dodgers with a chance to let, at least us folks on the east coast of the United States, go to bed!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 14th

Rick Honeycutt is out to talk to Floro about Holt, who is a pesky thing.

Two down, bases empty.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 14th

Popped him up. Bellinger is under it, two away.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 14th

Count is full to Kinsler.

Can Pomeranz play third?

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 14th

Eovaldi strikes out, one down.

Because of the way this game has gone, the stakes are absolutely sky hight for both clubs now.

Kinsler is up now, up in the count against Floro, 2-1.

Updated

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, top 14th

Pitching to Puig is the first real mistake Cora has made in this series.

That and pitching himself into a corner for tomorrow, which will only matter if they lose tonight.

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Barnes skies to center and the crazy 13th inning is finally over and we aren’t don’t yet folks! Stick with us!

Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 13th

The umps are trying to figure out if Puig should be at first base or second base depending on where the errant throw landed, in play or out of play. If it’s out of play Puig will go to second and be in scoring position for Barnes.

I told you they should not of pitched to Puig who put good wood on the Eovaldi pitch.

Puig will stay at first.

RUN! Red Sox 2-2 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Puig hits a line drive up the middle, Kinsler is there, has it, but slips and throws the ball away!! WE ARE TIED AT TWO. THAT REALLY HAPPENED!

This is all because Muncy tagged up on that foul ball! A wild series of events!

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

They are crazy to pitch to Puig. It’s 1-1.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Bellinger pops out into foul ground: Nunez running, reaches out and makes the catch and his momentum takes him into the stands! Wild play...

...Max Muncy is able to tag up! So now LA have a runner in scoring position!

Nunez has gotten completely destroyed in the last inning.

Puig is up with the game on the line. Will he walk him to face Barnes? I would.

Updated

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Huge cut from Bellinger on 3-1.

So now the count is full to Cody Bellinger.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Dodgers fans are standing and watching and waiting for some magic, for a savior. Bellinger is up in the count, 2-1.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Machado got under it, and Holt is standing in left field to make the catch for out no1. Now Bellinger.

Updated

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Machado lays off a ball just outside. 3-2...

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Machado is next: he’s 1-5 tonight. It goes without saying that this is the hugest of spots for the Oriole infielder.

It’s 2-2.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

A 99mph heater that nearly hit Muncy: he may have considered leaning in there.

Now he lays off a low breaking ball, and then check swings o a 100mph hitter that’s a boarder-line strike: the home plate ump calls it a ball!

Muncy is on first, and I do not have to tell you that leadoff walsk are the key ingredient in recipes for disaster.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, bottom 13th

Everybody up on their feet in LA as they know a 3-0 World Series deficit will be virtually impossible to recover from, although Dave Roberts may disagree.

Anyway, here’s Muncy, who is in the hole 1-2.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, top 13th

Bouncer in front of Barnes who steps on home plate to end this potentially series crushing inning for the Dodgers.

Last chance saloon for LA! It’ll be Muncy, Machado and Bellinger.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, top 13th

A double for Leon! Nunez holds at third: here comes Betts, who they’ll intentionally walk to load the bases here.

Bogaetrs can blast a big hole through the good ship Dodgers right now.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, top 13th

Vazquez strikes out: two down. Here is Leon, who is making his first appearance at the plate tonight.

Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, top 13th

Bradley flies to deep center. That’s the first out. Vazquez is next, but it won’t be Alexander who is facing him. Roberts is coming to get his man and it will be Dylan Floro trying to keep this a one-run gamer for LA.

Updated

RUN! Red Sox 2-1 Dodgers, top 13th

Tricky ball on the right side: Nunez is streaking down the line... Alexander has it, throws to Henrandez who is trying to cover and the ball gets away! Holt is coming around and scores!

THE RED SOX HAVE THE LEAD!

And Nunez is shaken up again from bursting down the line when he was already hurt.

This all started with a free pass. Remember what I wrote about leadoff walks being the main ingredient in a recipe for disaster?

Still no outs in the 13th and a runner on first. Bradley is up!

It’s scorted a base hit for Nunez and an error on the pitcher Alexander who made the throw...

Updated

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 13th

Ball in the dirt, Holt goes! Nunez was upended during the action around the plate. Barnes was chasing the ball and basically took Nunez out from under him. Wild play. The trainers are looking at him - he has to play! There are no other fielders on the bench!

Bananas.

So runner on second and 1-0 to Nunez, nobody out.

Nunez will stay in.

Wild.

Updated

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 13th

Brock Holt, who has played infield and outfield tonight, walks!

That is not what you want to see if you’re a Dodgers game. Leadoff walks are the main ingredient in recipes for disaster.

Updated

Remember this? It was actually in this very game!

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 12th

Eovaldi hits 102mph on the gun, and Turner can only wave at it and say goodbye!

Inning over, on to the 13th!

I’m hungry. Can somebody grab me a bite to eat?

It’s turn back the clock night!

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 12th

Cora has painted himself into a bullpen day tomorrow, probably. Or Drew Pomeranz, who is kind of a hybrid at this point I’d imagine.

Kike grounds behind the bag at first: Vazquez, who is making his first ever appearance at first base, makes a nice play and tosses to Eovaldi. That’s out no1.

Here’s Pederson - he’s quickly in the hole 1-2.

FOX TV in the US says this is the longest World Series game in terms of innings in the 57-year history of Dodger Stadium.

Pederson skies to center: two outs.

Turner is next.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 12th

Nathan Eovaldi is in, and Sandy Leon comes into catch - he’s the last man on the Red Sox bench, so they’re on empty.

It’s Eovaldi’s game now. This is a long haul thing, if it goes long haul.

Kike Hernandez is off the bench to pinch-hit. What’s he got?

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 12th

Moreland strikes out! That’s the 21st strikeout combined this game!

Now Kinsler bounces back to the pitchr: inning over!

Can the Dodgers end this thing or what?

What if they made the whole World Series out of paper mache?

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 12th

Wait, I was in the bathroom. What happened?

Oh, they brought in Madson? That is huge chutzpah from Roberts. They got away with it, it seems, as Bogaerts grounded back to the reliever for the first out.

Now Madson is out, and here comes Alexander in relief.

Dave Roberts obviously doesn’t care that it’s close to 1AM on the east coast of the United States.

Alexander to face Moreland.

Hey, isn’t it about 6AM in the UK? Good morning folks!

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 11th

Hembree pulls the string and Taylor waves at strike three. Inning over: we go to the 12th!

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 11th

Full count to Taylor, and Barnes will be running from first with the pitch...

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 11th

The Dodgers have left nine tonight. Boston just three.

Taylor is ahead in the count 2-1...

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 11th

Nine pitch war won by Barnes who laid off a boarder line pitch. That’s a two out runner for LA and Taylor approaches the plate.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 11th

Puig pops to Betts who, at least for now, is in right field. That could change, believe me.

Two down.

Now Barnes is up for his first at bat of the evening.

Updated

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 11th

Full count to Bellinger who grounds right into the shift on the right side, Kinsler handles and fires to first for out no1.

Here is Puig.

Updated

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 11th

Heath Hembree is in for the Sox in relief of Kimbrel who got it done tonight. He is ahead on Bellinger 1-2...

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 11th

Pearce walks. Betts is up.

FOX TV in the US reports that more than 20 dozen baseballs have been used, considerably more than the usual 10 dozen that are usually spent.

Now back to the action...Betts pops to center. Side retired.

Bellinger, who has been in the middle of it all as of late, leads off the Dodgers 11th.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 11th

Baez remains in for LA and he strikes out Bradley, who tied this game in the eighth with that soul-destroying strike to LA’s playoff hopes.

But they’re still playing and could still cut the Sox series lead in half...

Now Vazquez grounds out to short.

Here comes Steve Pearce off the bench.


Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 10th

Kimbrel left it out over the plate: that was a pitch to hit but Machado pops it a mile high in the infield: Boraerts has it, inning over!

Another missed offensive opportunity for LA. This is not goinng to end well for these guys, me thinks.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 10th

More outfield defensive maneuvering. Bradley in left, Betts in center, and Holt in right.

Two foul balls from an aggressive Machado and it’s 0-2. He’s gotta make Kimbrel work more.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 10th

Muncy, a line shot: it bounces up and over the wall for a two-out double!

Now Cora walks Machado intentionally with first base open...oh wait, he doesn’t.

That’s who you want to beat you?

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 10th

Now Turner bounces to third, and that’s two outs with Max Muncy heading to the plate.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 10th

Kimbrel gets Pederson to pop up. One down. Turner is next.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 10th

Nunez skies to center: is it deep enough?

Bellinger waits, Kinsler tags, the throw is IN TIME!

WOW! What a throw by Bellinger who burned LA by being picked off earlier in a big spot during the Dodger ninth, and then comes up huge in an even bigger situation! Bellinger may have saved this game and perhaps the series!

Double play! Inning over! We’re still tied!

Updated

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 10th

So runners at the corners, one out, Devers out, Nunez in. Righty v righty and LA could use a strikeout or a pop up.

The LA infield is playinin...

Updated

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 10th

There goes Kinsler, pitch, and a base hit up the middle!

Kinsler is heading into third, the throw is off, but now Turner has the wise throw, he waits, then goes to tag Kinsler who ran off the bag!

Is he safe? The ump says yet! They’re not going to challenge!

The lead run is 90 feet away for the BoSox.

Nunez pinch hits, and we know what happened last time...

The jury is in

The call is safe, and that’s probably right. It was super close, and not enough to overturn the call on the field.

So a man on with one out Baez faces Holt.

Replay

Was Ian Kinsler picked off? Max Muncy thinks so: he’s throwing the ball around the infield, he’s that confident. I’m not sure there’s enough to overturn a safe call. This should be interesting...

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 10th

Baez walks Martinez, who will pinch run for Martinez. Kinsler can’t be much of a speed daemon: perhaps that tels you something about JD’s ankle, although he did play all night in the OF.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 10th

Pedro Baez is in to pitch for LA and face Moreland. Baez, so good in Game 1, was removed for Alex Wood, who gave up the home run to Eduardo Nunez. Then a night later, he sat on the bench while Ryan Madson gave up huge runs for a second straight night.

Moreland pops to Puig in right field.

Now JD Martinez.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Kimbrel leaves it over the plate but Dozier pops it up! Vazquez has it and we’re going to exrtra innings!

Bellinger, Bellinger, Bellinger and missed Dodger opportunities.

They’re deadly.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Kimbrel, big silver chain, and an even bigger red beard, stares in at Dozier.

It’s a 2-1 count.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Taylor walks!

Roberts is going to pinch run and bring Austin Barnes in to get a bit more speed.

The Dodgers could win this with a. base hit, and Brian Dozier steps to the plate to pinch hit for the pitcher.

The Sox move Betts to center defensively.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

It’s 3-2 to Taylor.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Chris Taylor faces Kimbrel with two down and a catcher on first base...it’s 1-2.

Bellinger

I cannot believe he got picked off there. That is such a killer! Can’t happen. No no no, it CANNOT happen! Basic baseball.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Grandal walks, and here comes Cora to get Price.

Kimbrel on his way in, into a tie game, on the road.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Bellinger is picked off! He left way too early. Man you can NOT get caught like that! Come on!

Roberts can’t believe it, 56,000 fans in LA can’t believe it. Full count.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Huge rip from Grandal is fouled straight back. He just missed that one, oh boy. Full count now.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

3-0, and the next pitch is outside but called a strike!

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

It’s 2-0 to Grandal...

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Everybody up in LA...

Price left it up and over but Puig missed it: it’s a harmless pop to right field for the first out.

The switch-hitting Grandal is batting right handed, his weaker side. Boston have a chat at the mound to try and figure this all out.

Updated

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Bellinger has a knock: a base hit to left field, and now the doubts creep in. Is this Cora’s first goose egg? He’s been perfecto for most of the playoffs.

Here is Puig in a huge spot.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th

Here comes David Price, in relief, on a days rest.

That is bandango.

Here comes Cody Bellinger looking to write a new piece of Dodgers World Series history and send these fans home happy.

He’s down in the count 1-2.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 9th

The Kingdom of the Netherlands All-Stars are facing off in the World Series. The winner is Jansen, who gets Bogaerts to ground out to second.

Great job by the former catcher taking on a rough part of the Boston lineup needing to keep the Sox off the board.

Had Bradley not found a way to tie this game, that would’ve been game over. Instead, we go to the bottom of the ninth!

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 9th

Betts pops to center. Two down, and here’s Bogaerts.

David Price

He’s warming in the bullpen. Boston are maniacs.


Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 9th

Benintendi whiffs on a fastball. One down, here is Betts.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 9th

So now Jansen, after allowing the home run to Bradley, after sitting through a half inning that wasn’t the shortest, has to regroup, loosen quickly and face the top of the Red Sox lineup.

That’s not a Wednesday night in June type of challenge.

Before Betts is the pinch-hitting Benintendi, and it’s quickly 1-2.

Updated

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

Strike three! Machado waves at high heat and here come the Red Sox!

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

Two down, runner on first is Muncy and it’s 2-2 to Machado in a huge spot.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

Muncy reaches on a fielders choice.

Moreland fielded it at first and fired to Bogaerts and took a hard slide from Turner: totally clean, but Xander was a bit shaken up.

They’re swapping positions in the outfield: with the right handed Machado at the plate, Bradley moves to left, Betts goes into center and Martinez is in right.

The Mets used to do that with Rusty Staub at the end of his career: I’ve not seen a move like that on a stage like this. It makes a ton of sense.

Updated

that’s about right...

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

Turner drops one into shallow left: a base hit that lands in front of Martinez. One on and one out for Max Muncy.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

Down in the count 3-0, Barnes throws it past Pederson for strike three!

Turner is next.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

Pederson wastes pitches: no9 is coming up.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

Two fastballs down the middle: it’s a full count.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

Joc Pederson faces new Boston pitcher Matt Barnes and is quickly ahead 3-0...

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th

So now it’s up to the Dodgers to try and find a way to score, some way, some how, because it’s only a matter of time before Boston erupt, isn’t it?

If they can’t, this World Series could be 3-0, lickety-split.

Email

Roger is back:

“Hey Dave, you might need to large slices of bread to put your computer between. I expect the Red Sox DH to make an appearance soon though, so you might be okay.”

I survived, thank goodness. I hate the taste of RAM.

Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 8th

Walker Buehler’s night is spoiled by the Dutch closer, as fans try to regroup and get back into this game.

Vazquez pops to second and the inning is over, but not before JBrad ties it at one!

HOME RUN! Red Sox 1-1 Dodgers, top 8th

Jackie Bradley, deep to right, UP AND OVER THE WALL!

The kiler two-out hitting continues as Boston sucks the air out of the building with one swing!

WOW!

Updated

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 8th

Jansen dials it up to 96mph and takes it upstairs. Swing. Miss. Two down!

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 8th

Everybody up at Dodger Stadium.

Jansen shakes off two signs from Grandal. Here it comes, the wind up, a check swing: did he go?

Magic Johnson wants the call.

No!

The at-bat continues. It’s 2-2.

Updated

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 8th

Jansen ahead on Devers 1-2...

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 8th

Good start for Jansen: Holt pops to shallow left field. One down, and Devers is next.


Walker Buehler

What can you say? He was absolutely incredible. So good, Roberts couldn’t go by the book and yank him after going through the lineup twice. No easy task in 2018.

7IP 2H 0R 0ER 0BB 7SO 0HR

That’s a game of a lifetime, and he’s only 24.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th

Kemp grounds to short, inning over. Jansen is on his way in for a two-inning save attempt.

Gather yourself Dodgers fans, you’re flying into turbulence. Can the closer land the plane?

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th

Taylor hits it deep to left but it dies on the track and that’s two down.

Here comes Matt Kemp to pinch-hit for Buehler which means the kid is officially done.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th

Grandal swings and misses at a ball in the dirt and that’s out no1.

Now it’s Chris Taylor with one aboard and one away. He’s 0-2 tonight.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th

Jansen stands alone in the Dodgers bullpen, watching and waiting. In fact, he’s been waiting since Game 7 of the NLCS, which was a while ago.

Meanwhile, it’s 0-2 to Grandal: he wastes a Brasier fastball and the at-bat continues.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th

Puig, a high chopper to third: Devers charges, has it, but the throw is late and offline. It’s a leadoff base hit for the Cuban and now another Cuban, Yasmani Grandal steps in.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th

So here’s Ryan Brasier out of Boston’s bullpen: bearded righty, 31 years old, facing Yasiel Puig, who has been quiet in this series.

Almost too quiet.

Sandy!

Great shot of Koufax giving Buehler a standing ovation. That is as close to God as you’re ever going to get.

Updated

Stretch time...

Here’s a shot of dopamine for you, in the form of Vin Scully.

“...a package of American cheese...”

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 7th

Strike three! It’s a 108-pitch masterpiece from Buehler who walks off under a sea of adulation from the Dodgers crowd!

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 7th

High heat from Buehler and Martinez chases. It’s 2-2...

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 7th

Showtime in LA, another K for Buehler! Moreland is caught looking and it’s two down!

Look who is coming up...JD Martinez.

Crowd is in an absolute frenzy!

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 7th

Did I hear that right? Buehler is the first Dodgers pitcher to make it into the seventh in the Dodgers last nine playoff games? Is that possible?

Oh boy.

Buehler is heading towards 100 pitches, and has now retired 12 Red Sox on the trot. Bogaerts pops to center. One down.

Here is Moreland.

Jansen is well rested. I wonder if Roberts would go to the Dutch closer in this inning if he needed to.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 6th

Even Machado is disgusted with his lack of hustle there based on the way he’s staring into space on first base.

Never mind, Bellinger pops to second, inning over.

Six innings in the books, a combined six hits on the board.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 6th

Kelly, who apparently has quite the sense of humor, reads the signs from his catcher before issuing a curve ball that is bounced to the right side: Holt the second baseman has it and throws to first, in time.

Now it’s up to Machado in the Dodgers who is first pitch swinging and hits a line drive to left! It’s off the wall...but he’s not runnign because he was watching it.

He could have been at second...maybe. Still, why aren’t you running Manny?Is it because your name is Manny?

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 6th

Ah, here is Joe Kelly and his glasses. I love to watch him work. He has really settled into this role after some trials and tribulations during his stint in Boston. And you know what?

Good for him.

Now he faces Turner, who is in a 0-2 hole, which is apparently right where Justin likes it: I hear he hits close to .300 down deep in the count.

No luck this time, just a bloop to shallow right field that Betts closes in on and puts away. Good play there from Betts.

Here comes Muncy.

Porcello

I forgot to give you his line, then I remembered. Perhaps Sox fans would’ve like a little more length from their starter tonight, but most would have signed up for this consider he battles inconsistency.

4.2IP 3H 1R 1ER 1BB 5SO 1HR

Key event

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 6th

Buehler gets Betts looking, and the Kentuckian walks off to a standing ovation! He’s been phenomenal tonight in an absolutely huge spot for his team.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 6th

Excuse me swing from Swihart and it’s a grounder to third: Turner has it and fires to first for the second out of the inning.

Buehler approaches 90 pitches as the dangerous Mookie Betts steps in.

Dodger Stadium fans are up: it’s 1-2!

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 6th

So we’re moving through this game as 56,000 plus Dodgers fans await the coming moves from Dave Roberts with a wee bit of tension. For now, Buehler is still in there, on 80 pitches, facing the bottom of the Sox order.

Here’s Vazquez. Buehler, even at the count at 2-2, takes a long look in before delivering a ball that tempted the Sox catcher.

Now the count is full. Pitch, little slow chopper: Taylor on the run moving to his right, he’s got it and fires just in time to get the tortoise running to first.

One down, and Buehler is about to face pinch-hitter Blake Swihart.

There’s a meeting on the mound as Rick Honeycutt comes out to brief his pitcher on the new batter.

Instructions in, we resume...

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 5th

Rodriguez comes in and does his job, getting Pederson swinging on a ball low and inside.

Inning over.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 5th

Dodgers really gotta make the most of these opportunities. If they win 1-0 tonight, I’ll eat my computer.

It’s still 1-2 after Pederson wastes a few pitches.

Updated

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 5th

Pederson is in the hole to Rodriguez 1-2. Brasier continues to warm in the Boston pen.

Expect big changes to baseball in the offseason.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 5th

Buehler struggles to get the bunt down and takes strike two. He’ll try again, because, why not?

No dice, he’s gone after fouling off strike three.

Pederson is next, but here comes Cora.

We’re going to have a pitching change as the Boston skipper doesn’t want to give his hurler another shot against the lefty who took him deep in the third.

Southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez is on his way in...

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 5th

Grandal lines one through the shift and into right field: it’s a leadoff base hit past a diving Brock Holt and LA have their leadoff man on.

The crowd are up, and then down after Taylor skies to center for out no1. He needed to make something happen because...

...here’s the pitcher Buehler to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

Breaking:

Ryan Brasier is warming up in the Boston pen.

Meanwhile, Bradley pops out to left. Inning over.

Each team has just two hits, but LA has the lone run.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 5th

There’s some HOT buttered popcorn, up in the zone and past a flailing Devers.

Two outs, nobody on and here’s Jackie Bradley Jr.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 5th

Quick out for Buehler: Holt lines out to center field. Here comes Devers.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 4th

Bellinger strikes out and then Puig pops to second. LA gotta get more out of Puig: he’s the soul out there.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 4th

Porcello missed up but in the right spot, inside: Machado can’t do much with it, lifting a fly ball to left that’s easy for Martinez.

Now it’s Bellinger at the plate.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 4th

Crowd on their feet at Chavez Ravine.

Buehler, pauses, winds up, and fires 99mph on the inside corner to catch Martinez looking: side retired!

There’s some juice in LA!

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 4th

Moreland, a drive to left: Pederson drifts back, at the track, reaches up and...makes the grab. That ball carried some before dying on the dirt. Two down for the dangerous JD Martinez.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, top 4th

Machado has to charge a ball off the bat of Bogaerts, because he’s flying down the line: he has it and comes up firing, just in time! One away for Buehler, whose pitch economy has improved somewhat, but it needs to improve some more.

Moreland at the plate, behind to Buehler, 1-2...

Perhaps jets need to alter their flight plans around Dodger Stadium?

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 3rd

Looking for more, Muncy can only lift it to left, where it’s routine for Martinez.

Side retired, but the Dodgers are on top.

Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 3rd

Now Turner cracks a ball into left, that’s down and away from the chasing Martinez! Turner slides into second and it’s a double for the Dodgers third baseman!

Now it’s Muncy with the Dodgers O picking up steam.

HOME RUN! Red Sox 0-1 Dodgers, bottom 3rd

Pederson hits a drive deep to right, that ball is OUTTA HERE!

It’s a solo home run for Joc Pederson and the all or nothing Dodgers have their first all of the night!

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, bottom 3rd

Taylor grounds to short: Bogaerts, running to his right, backhands the ball and makes a jump throw, bang on!

What a play from Bogaerts!

Then Porcello makes short work of Buehler, his third strikeout.

Two outs and nobody on for Pederson.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 3rd

Get this: Betts pops out to center and the inning is over.

Just to be clear, the Red Sox did NOT score with a runner in scoring position and two outs.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 3rd

Buehler up and over 50 pitches now, that’s a lot, but most of them have been filthy. Full count to Vazquez: he cracks a single to left and it’s past Pederson who was trying to play it on a hop!

But Vazquez is a tortoise, and so it’s just a single after Bellinger backs up the play well.

Now Porcello the pitcher: he did hit a three run double off Max Scherzer once, it must be said.

Not here, instead he lays down a sac bunt moving Vazquez into scoring position.

And you know Boston do have this thing about two outs with RISP...

Here’s Betts.

Gulp.

Updated

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 3rd

Bradley shoots one up the middle, and Turner, running to his right, slides deep in the hole to make a fine play! He gets up and makes the throw, but it’s not in time. Great range from Turner, but it’s not in time.

Bradley is on, and running right away, but Buehler has him picked off!

He calmly steps off and fires to Machado at the second base bag, and that’s quite a steady play from the Kentuckian!

One down! Vazquez at the plate.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, bottom 2nd

Grandal looks at strike three, and this dire Dodgers offense continue to roll over.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, bottom 2nd

Dodgers need to find Jobu and wake up bats, and soon.

No sign of that in the second, just two easy outs: first from Bellinger who pops to left, then Puig who skies to center.

Now it’s Grandal, in a huge slump, faces Porcello while bidding to shake it off.

Email

Michael Aston is a Welshman whose been in LA for over 30 years! He writes:

“I know next to nothing about baseball but always support our local teams..It seems to me hitters fail to make bases, (or steal them), by milliseconds..I reckon they should shave off every hair on their bodies and play in speedos. Go Dodgers.”

We know baseball has a marketing problem, perhaps this is the way? I’ll have a word with Commissioner Manfred.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 2nd

Devers ground to first, it’s routine for Muncy who takes it himself, inning over.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 2nd

Holt hits a spinning knubber out in front of the catcher: Grandal has it, and pump fakes before firing to first, getting the second baseman just in time. That was closer than it should have been.

Meanwhile, Buehler is more economical this inning, and is quickly ahead 0-2 to Devers.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 2nd

JD Martinez, who slipped off the bag at second after making a turn, grounds out to second. That ankle is strained, so we’ll have to watch how he reacts, especially now that he’s out in left field.

Now it’s Holt.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st

Muncy draws a walk, and that means there’s a Dodger on first base for the first time in 16 batters going back to Game 2.

He’s off the bag quickly enough: Manny Machado hits a line shot down to third: Devers has it and fires to second to nail Muncy, who slid through the bag and into Holt, quite hard actually.

Muncy said he was sorry right away though, so there’s a bare minimum of aggravation.

Inning over.

Updated

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st

Turner skies to center and that’s two outs.

Now Muncy, making his first start of the World Series, steps in.

You may recall that Muncy hit 35 home runs this year, which in April was about as likely as my hitting 35 home runs.

Ok, maybe that’s a little much...it’s 2-2.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st

Now it’s Porcello’s turn, and he starts out facing the lefty Joc Pederson. The count runs full, and Pederson wastes one, and another: we’re up to nine pitches now.

Meanwhile, here’s some news: FOX TV in the US say David Price is in the bullpen tonight, meaning he’s available on one day of rest to pitch an inning or so.

Incredible shifts happening in the sport.

Back to the action - Pederson waves at a fastball and that’s out no1. Here’s Justin Turner.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 1st

Moreland, bearded lefty first baseman, is another BoSox batter wasting Buehler’s pitches.

Now Buehler pulls the string on a breaking ball that’s just a touch inside.

It’s a full count: Moreland lifts it to right field, into the waiting hands of Yasiel Puig.

It’s a hard earned 1-2-3 inning that featured no fewer than 26 pitches from the kid.

Here come the Dodgers.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 1st

After retiring Bogaerts on his second consecutive strikeout, he gets to face Mitch Moreland.

Good start for Buehler, but he’s approaching 20 pitches already, it should be noted.

Red Sox 0-0 Dodgers, top 1st

Full count, and Buehler catches Betts looking at a fastball: that’s out no1 for LA!

Now it’s Bogaerts, donning the Sox solid blue alternate jersey, steps in at the no2 spot, the highest he’s bat in the Boston lineup in this series. What can he do with this Dodgers kid?

Updated

First pitch

Walker Buehler, big right handed hurler, 24 years old from Lexington, Kentucky, winds up and delivers a strike to Mookie Betts to start off Game 3!

Hunter is warmer tonight...

I buy that...

Email

Roger Kirkby, a long time reader, writes:

“Ahh, Dodger Stadium. The first time you drive up Stadium Way, through the park, crest the hill and actually see the stadium is something to behold. You can’t see the place from the freeway as it has hills all around it. As for the current team it’s now or don’t bother, those guys on-base, you better get them home or it’s curtains.”

It is a marvelous place. It has outdoor escalators, a clear sign that you’re in some kind of paradise.

As a New Yorker with a Brooklyn Dodgers fan as a father, the first time I drove up Stadium Way, which I believe is now called Vin Scully Way, you could feel the history and an old baseball story coming full circle.

I thought to myself, “so this is why they left.”

And while dad was not happy in 1957, I kind of got it. The park is that good, and so their going west for a new world, like so many others, made some sense.

But I digress.

First pitch is moments away!

National Anthem

Brad Paisley from...Glen Dale, West Virgina, seems like an interesting choice considering where he’s from. However, a quick review of his twitter feed features a good deal of Dodger Blue. So you know what? That’s fair enough.

He does the electric guitar thing, which is always challenging, but he doesn’t push it too far and pulls it off quite well. Excellent work: 8/10!

Lineups

Boston Red Sox

1. Mookie Betts, RF

2. Xander Bogaerts, SS

3. Mitch Moreland, 1B

4. JD Martinez, LF

5. Brock Holt, 2B

6. Rafael Devers, 3B

7. Jackie Bradley Jr, CF

8. Chrsitian Vazquez, C

9. Rick Porcello, RHP

OK, so Benintendi, who has played incredibly well this series, who has caught fly balls in true ballerina fashion, is out tonight. This is so they could get JD Martinez, who was the designated hitter in Boston, into the lineup.

There was some talk about putting Betts at second base so they could keep Benintendi in the lineup, but the Sox went in favor of keeping their defense as strong as possible, at least for now. There’s still a chance we could see that at some point.

Here’s the home team...

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Jod Pederson, LF

2. Justin Turner, 3B

3. Max Muncy, 1B

4. Manny Machado, SS

5. Cody Bellinger, CF

6. Yasiel Puig, RF

7. Yasmani Grandal, C

8. Chris Taylor, 2B

9. Walker Buheler, RHP

Good to see Muncy, and I like giving Grandal another shot after a miserable NLCS. Moving Taylor down in the lineup also makes sense. It’ll be interesting to see how they do against Porcello, who got hit hard in the ALCS v the Astros.

Prediction

If there’s one word you can attach to LA it’s resilient.

This is a team that took forever to get going on 2018. At one point they were 10 games under .500, nine games out of first place, without their ace, without their closer, suffering through injuries and offensive dry spells. They recovered, surged to the finish against a red hot Rickies team and made it to the post season before seeing off the Milwaukee, who for a time, looked relatively unbeatable. LA were an extra-innings loss away from going down 3-1 in the NLCS, but did not break, eventually bouncing the Brew Crew in seven tough games.

Not they face their biggest test, recovering from a 2-0 series deficit against a team that has already won 118 times.

I think it’s in them. I believe they’ll benefit from being home, from the flame-throwing kid on the mound, and I do like the lineup they have tonight.

Speaking of lineups, I’ll have those in a moment. Please stand by.

Hola

Hello and welcome to our coverage of Game 3 of the 2018 World Series: thanks for joining us!

There’s an old sports cliché that says, in series play, a team really isn’t in trouble until they lose a home game.

Now, that is true, but having said that, when you do not have home field advantage, you do have to win one away game. So if we’re going to dig into that a little bit, until you win on the road, which the Dodgers did not do, you are actually in trouble.

And there was a lot of trouble for LA in Boston.

They left Fenway Park with a pair of losses from a couple of lefties: Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu, after a handful of questionable decisions from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. The pressure has increased on the skipper, whose ballclub must deliver tonight.

The good news is they’ve home, in a venue without a weird wall, or a bizarre center field triangle, or any kind of oddity that comes along with a ballpark built on old city blocks.

Surely there is a feel good factor being back under the sky above picturesque Chavez Ravine, and a chance that LA can hit the reset button on the 114th Fall Classic.

They’ll have their prized rookie Walker Buehler on the hill, while Boston features a one-time Cy Young Award winning hurler, Rick Porcello.

All should be revealed starting at 809EST and 109UK time. Until then, why not send over your thoughts and feelings via twitter on @LengelDavid or via Email.

I promise to make you famous.

More to come...

Updated

And Dodger Stadium - and the weather - looks as fine as ever as we prepare for the start of tonight’s game.

It’s a perfect day for baseball in LA
It’s a perfect day for baseball in LA. Photograph: Gary A Vasquez/USA Today Sports

Just in case Mookie Betts wasn’t enough of a hero for the Boston fans, he spent the night after Game 2 feeding the homeless. Not a bad six hours’ work.

David will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s something on the man who has led the Red Sox to a 2-0 series lead:

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora had just become the first Puerto Rican to take a Major League Baseball team to the World Serieswhen TBS’ Brian Anderson asked Cora what the achievement meant for him and the island where he was born.

“I still remember, it was around this time when we got the deal [to become Red Sox manager] done,” he said. “I didn’t talk about money, I didn’t talk about incentives, I didn’t talk about housing or cars and all that. All I wanted was a plane full of supplies for my hometown [Caguas, Puerto Rico].”

Cora was, of course referencing Hurricane Maria, which struck just before he was announced as the new Red Sox manager. Maria ravaged his homeland in 2017 and left nearly 3,000 Puerto Ricans dead as a result of the storm, along with a seemingly unsatisfactory response from the federal government.

You can read the full article below:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
7 Things Parents With ADHD Kids Say Schools Still Don’t Understand
Image source: shutterstock.com
Kids Ain't Cheap
Kids Ain't Cheap
Why is everyone so obsessed with gen Z?
Is there something different about people born between 1997 and 2012 or is it all just marketing nonsense and hysteria?
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
‘I love being proactive about ageing gracefully’: Kerry Washington on memes, Botox and imperfect women
The Scandal star made history as the first Black woman to lead a TV show in 40 years. Now, she’s back in the hot seat with starry thriller Imperfect Women, and she’s determined to keep shaking up the industry
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
How big is the housework gender gap? It depends if the husband or wife answers the question
Couples often disagree about who does more housework. Part of that disagreement reflects real differences in behaviour. But part of it is perception: what each person notices, remembers and counts as “work”.
The Conversation
The Conversation
What to know: Downtown Anchorage braces for a canine takeover as the Iditarod’s 54th run begins
The Iditarod returns to Anchorage as hundreds of dogs and their mushers line up for the race’s ceremonial start
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Metallica add 16 dates to Las Vegas Sphere residency
Metallica have added 16 dates to their Las Vegas Sphere residency, bringing it to a total of 24 shows.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play