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LOS ANGELES — In the longest game in Major League Baseball postseason history, the Dodgers made this a series with Max Muncy’s walk-off home run in the 18th inning off Nathan Eovaldi to win Game 3 of the World Series 3-2.
Red Sox lead the Series 2-1.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1056086699942596608
Eovaldi was a workhorse for the Red Sox. The scheduled Game 4 starter pitched over six innings and threw 97 pitches.
The game should have been over in the 13th but Ian Kinsler, who already had an adventure around the bases that culminated in him getting thrown out at the plate in the 10th, took a routine ground ball from Yasiel Puig with two outs, a runner on second and the Sox leading 2-1, and proceeded to throw it by Christian Vazquez (who was playing first by that point) to allow the Dodgers to tie it and prolong the game.
Boston pushed the go-ahead run across in the 13th when after getting ahead 0-2, Scott Alexander walked Brock Holt on four-straight pitches. Eduardo Nunez hit a ground ball toward first in no-man’s land and it was gloved by Alexander, who’s toss went down the right-field line to score Holt.
The Red Sox looked like they were going to have a chance to take the lead in the top of the 10th when J.D. Martinez drew a one-out walk. Ian Kinsler pinch ran for Martinez, and advanced to third with one out on Brock Holt’s single.
Pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunez hit a fly ball to center field, but it was only medium depth. Still, Kinsler went and was gunned down at the plate with postseason hero Jackie Bradley Jr. looming in the on-deck circle.
This game was largely a pitcher’s duel until Bradley Jr. tied the game with a blast in the eighth off closer Kenley Jansen.
Dodgers 21-year-old starter Walker Buehler was nothing sort of the sensational, going a strong seven innings with just two hits allowed and seven strikeouts. He faced just one batter aboved the minimum because Bradley singled to lead off the third but was quickly picked off. Christian Vazquez followed with another single, and then Buehler retired the final 13 Red Sox batters he faced. Buehler struck out three of his final four hitters.
But Buehler’s start was wasted only Bradley’s home run off Jansen, who was in for what is sure to be a questioned two-inning save.
Rick Porcello was nearly as good, albeit in a much shorter appearance. He allowed just a Joc Pederson home run in the third. He allowed three total hits and struck out five in 4.1 innings. Eduardo Rodriguez, Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes, David Price (.2), Craig Kimbrell (1.1), Heath Hembree and Nathan Eovaldi combined for 11.1 scoreless innings before the final frame.
The top four spots in the Red Sox lineup went 0 for 28.
Bottom of the 18th
Muncy wins it.
Top of the 18th
Wood in at pitcher. Only players not to play in this game: Hill and Ryu for Dodgers; Pomeranz and Sale for Sox.
- Leon walks.
- Fielder's choice for Betts.
- Bogaerts grounds into an inning-ending double play. My contempt for Ian Kinsler grows with every inning (it's a joke).
Bottom of the 17th
- Hernandez pops up.
Kershaw pinch-hitting. Ok. I'm awake now.
- Lined out to Mookie.
- Turner strikes out. 18th
Top of the 17th
Urias now pitching.
- Holt flies out center.
It's midnight here. Apparently, that's a big deal to them.
- Nunez pops out to second.
- Bradley walks.
- Vazquez with a cue ball, 3 unassisted.
https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1056078862285713408
Bottom of the 16th
- Puig pops to Nunez, who of course trips on the mound and is slow to get up. They love him here.
- Barnes flies out to center.
- Freese strikes out ... 17th.
Top of the 16th
- Bogaerts, Eovaldi, Kinsler strikeout in order.
Bottom of the 15th
Eovaldi at 48 pitches.
- Muncy missed ending the game by feet down the RF line ... and then strikes out.
- Machado has had enough of this game. Weak pop up.
- Bellinger K's looking on filthy curveball
Top of the 15th
Maeda pitching, Freese at first, Muncy at second, Hernandez in left, I think.
- Nunez reaches on a seeing-eye single to first.
- Bradley walks.
- Nunez out at third on a sac bunt. ... Nunez, not a lot of fans here.
- Leon strikes out.
- Betts strikes out looking on a close pitch, but it was close enough. He didn't like it.
Huge missed opportunity there after getting the first two on. A ton of mistakes for the Sox tonight and the Dodgers have yet to take advantage.
Bottom of the 14th
- Freese, LA's last position player on the bench, bounces out to Eovaldi sharply.
- Hernandez singled. Eovaldi must be tiring.
- Pederson, still trying to hit home runs, makes a terrible swing and pops up.
- Turner flies out to right.
Top of the 14th
- Eovaldi, who has to hit now, strikes out.
- Kinsler keeps his stellar game going with a pop out.
- Holt strikes out.
Bottom of the 13th
- Munchy walks.
- Machado flies out to left.
- Bellinger pops out foul on a long run for Nunez. Not sure Nunez had to go into the first row of the stands, but he did. One more out to go.
https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1056058685602971649
- Puig hits a game-ending ball to second but Kinsler lost his footing/rushed the throw and threw it past first base, allowing Muncy to score the tying run. That throw can't happen. RUN: Red Sox 2, Dodgers 2.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1056059769847455744
- Grandal flies out. On to 14.
Top of the 13th
- Holt walks. Alexander is pulling is landing foot out. He's going to leave one up.
- Wild pitch and Nunez gets taken out by the catcher trying to get the loose ball. Nunez has a balky ankle.
- Nunez hits a dribbler toward first in no-man's land, Alexander gets it, flips to first but it gets past and scores Holt. RUN: Red Sox 2, Dodgers 1. Nunez hurt again but stays in.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1056051700191047681
https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1056051703966060544
- Bradley lines out to center. Nunez goes diving back in to first and the entire Red Sox dugout told him to stay up.
Florio the new pitcher.
- Vazquez strikes out.
- Leon doubles.
- Betts intentionally walked to load the bases.
- Bogaerts grounds out to the catcher unassisted.
Bottom of the 12th
Nathan Eovaldi in.
https://twitter.com/GregABedard/status/1056046885633351680
https://twitter.com/GregABedard/status/1056047309505552384
- Vazquez flashes the leather to retire Hernandez.
- Pederson flies out to center.
- Gas face at 101 to sit down Turner. ... Lucky 13.
Top of the 12th
Ryan Madson is in. Kiké Hernandez to second and he'll lead off the bottom. Put an out down now.
- Bogaerts grounds out to the pitcher.
Alexander in.
- Moreland whiffs.
- Kinsler (in what would be Martinez's spot) grounds out to the pitcher.
Bottom of the 11th
Heath Hembree in.
- Bellinger ... grounds out.
- Puig flies out to right.
- Barnes walks.
- Turner strikes out.
Top of the 11th
- Bradley strikes out.
- Vazquez grounds out.
- Pearce pinch-hits for Kimbrel ... and walks.
- Betts flies out to center ... still due.
Bottom of the 10th
- Pederson popped out, Turner out to the third baseman.
- Muncy had a ground-rule double to bring up Machado.
- He pops out to second. On to 11.
Mary Hart imitating Kimbrel. This is what you get when you mix baseball and Hollywood. Worlds are colliding.
https://twitter.com/mrmarkpotts/status/1056028732329123842
Top of the 10th
Baez in, Barnes to C.
- Moreland flies to right.
- Martinez walks and Kinsler pinch runs for him ... and almost gets picked off.
https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1056032531135393792
- Holts singles up the middle, Kinsler makes it to third.
- Pinch-hitter Nunez hits a shallow fly ball to center ... catch ... throw ... tag ... out. And this place erupts.
https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1056034824723546112
https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1056033757055082497
Bottom of the 9th
David Price to pitch.
- Bellinger singles to left to lead off.
- Puig flies to right.
- Bellinger is picked off. A lot of not-good baserunning in this series so far.
- Grandal walks.
Kimbrel into the game. Price threw 13 pitches.
- Taylor walks.
Sox outfield switches again. JD to RF.
Dozier and his .133 BA is pinch-hitting.
- He predictably pops out foul to the catcher.
Top of the 9th
Benintendi hits for the pitcher in the 9 spot.
- Benny whiffs.
- Price is warming.
- Betts flies out.
- Bogaerts grounds out.
Bottom of the 8th
Matt Barnes in.
- Goes 3-0 on Pederson but comes back to get him on strikes.
- Turner singles to left.
- Muncy grounds into a fielder's choice and Bogaerts is cleanly taken out at second base and a little shaken up.
- Red Sox move Martinez to RF with Machado up. Bradley in LF, Betts in CF.
- Full count, runner in motion ... Barnes whiffs Machado.
Top of 8th
Closer Kenley Jansen for the two-inning save.
- Holt ... flies to left.
- Devers strikes out.
- Bradley goes deep to right to tie the game. RUN: Dodgers 1, Red Sox 1.
https://twitter.com/FOXSports/status/1056015799243046912
- Vazquez pops out.
Bottom of the 7th
Ryan Brasier is the new pitcher.
- Swinging bunt by Puig. Could have been for more bases had Moreland not snagged Devers' errant throw.
- Grandal strikes out.
- Taylor smokes one to deep right but Betts tracks it down and makes it look easy again.
Kemp hits in Buehler's spot.
Top of the 7th
- Bogaerts hits a screaming liner but Bellinger tracks it down.
- Moreland fans.
- Buehler gets Martinez to end the inning and the fans go nuts for Buehler, who has been outstanding.
https://twitter.com/FOXSports/status/1056008452911194112
Buehler is likely done: 7 IP, 2 H, 7 Ks, 108 pitches (72). Has there been a better postseason start this year?
Bottom of the 6th
Smokin Joe Kelly is in.
- Betts makes a very difficult play in right look easy to get Turner. Most outfielders (Puig) that would have dropped in.
- Muncy grounds right not the shift to Holt.
- Machado hits a rocket off the wall in left but he doesn't even threaten second base because he was pimping out of the box. Terrible. You said it, Manny, you're no Johnny Hustle.
https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1056005385708961794
- Bellinger pops out.
Top of the 6th
Time for the Sox to get something going.
- Vazquez grounds out to second.
Swihart pinch-hits for Rodriguez.
Swihart pinch-hits to have a check-swing groundout. Not good.
- Betts strikes out looking. 11-straight Sox retired.
Buehler's at 93 pitches but his spot isn't up this inning.
Bottom of the 5th
- Leadoff single from Grandal beats the shift.
- Taylor pops out to center.
- Buehler strikes out after bunting three times.
Eduardo Rodriguez in to pitch to Pederson. Porcello was at 61 pitches.
- E-Rod does it. Whiffs Pederson.
Top of the 5th
- Holt flies to right.
- Devers corkscrewed on a strikeout.
- Bradley flies to left. That's eight-straight Sox retired by Buehler.
79 pitches for him
Bottom of the 4th
- Machado flies to left.
- Bellinger strikes out.
- Puig pops out to short right and Holt.
Porcello: 54 pitches.
Top of the 4th
- Bogaerts grounds out to short.
- Moreland flies out to left.
- Martinez called out on strikes. He didn't like it.
Bottom of the 3rd
- Taylor grounds out to short on a nice play in the hole by Bogaerts.
- Buehler goes down quickly.
- Pederson homers on the first pitch to RF. Porcello's changeup hung. RUN: Dodgers 1, Red Sox 0.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1055990387322417152
- Turner doubles to left.
- Munchy flies out to left.
Top of the 3rd
- Bradley leads off with a single just out of the reach of the shift.
- Welp, Bradley is erased when he gets picked off trying one of those "going before the pitcher knows what's going on" things they like to do.
- Bradley's pickoff looms a lot larger now when a sinking liner to left by Vazquez gets by Pederson. Vazquez has a single. Really should have been two. He was watching the ball out of the box and not the base.
- Betts flies out to deep center.
55 pitches (38 strikes)
Bottom of the 2nd
- Martinez gets his first chance, an easy pop up from Bellinger. No problem.
- Puig lines out to Bradley.
- Grandal strikes out looking.
Top of the 2nd
- Martinez grounds out hard into the shift behind second.
- Holt grounds out softly to the catcher, who double clutches and almost allows Holt to reach.
- Devers grounds out to first.
One hard-hit ball so far for the Sox. 39 pitches. The kid Buehler is pretty good. Reminds me of a young Orel Hershiser. Slight build, good fastball, hard-biting curve and falls off the mound a littler.
Bottom of the 1st
- Pederson strikes out.
- Turners flies out to center.
- Two-out walk to bring up Machado.
Top of the 1st
- After going full and fouling one off, Betts goes down looking.
- Bogaerts goes down swinging but they're making the kid Buehler work. 18 pitches already.
- Moreland flies to right. But they did some damage on the pitch count with 26 pitches (18 strikes).
_________________
- Alex Cora elected to keep Jackie Bradley Jr. in center and Mookie Betts in right while sitting Andrew Benintendi to make room for J.D. Martinez in Game 3. "Keeping Jackie in center and obviously Mookie (in right helps),'' said Cora. "J.D. (sore ankle) is OK, but we know where he's at. Keeping those two defenders (in their regular spots) is good, especially in this ballpark. And we've got Benny off the bench against lefties or righties. He can run, too, and he can (go in for) defense. We know he's been hitting second for us and doing a great job for us. Hey man, we're in the World Series and it sucks that we have to make decisions that one of the boys isn't player. But those are the rules and we're not complaining about it.''
- Cora said Martinez's ankle is slowly improving, though far from 100 percent. Cora acknowledged that, if this were a regular series game, Martinez wouldn't be in the lineup. "Not because he's that hurt, but I wouldn't push him (for a regular season game).''
- The Sox have officially announced Nathan Eovaldi as their Game 4 starter, but Cora wouldn't rule out using Eovaldi tonight in Game 3 if the spot calls for it. "If we have a chance to make it 3-0 with him on the mound, we'll take a chance,'' said Cora.
- In a pre-game ceremony, Martinez was named the A.L. winner of the annual Hank Aaron Award, given to the league's best hitter. Martinez led the league in RBI, finished second in batting average to Betts and added 42 homers. Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers was named the N.L. winner.