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LOS ANGELES -- The Boston Red Sox may have made their fans wait 86 years for another World Series championship … but they sure seem keen on making up for lost time.
The Red Sox won their fourth title in 15 seasons by virtue of their 5-1 victory in Game 5 against the Dodgers on Sunday night. Boston dispatched the Dodgers in five games.
Boston’s current run of titles is right up there with any dynasty in Major League Baseball history.
The Red Sox’ initial powerhouse won five titles in 16 years from 1904-18. More recently, the Yankees won five in 14 seasons from 1996-2009.
It was the 11th title in a major sport for Boston since 2001.
The Red Sox are the first MLB team to win four titles this century.
The Red Sox won the clincher with four home runs — two from Steve Pearce, to give him four for the series and three in two games, and solo shots from Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez.
That was more than enough for David Price, who won his second start of the series with seven strong innings. He gave up a solo home run on the first pitch of game, and then allowed just two hits the rest of the way.
Joe Kelly struck out the side in the eighth, and then Chris Sale finished off the game and set off another title celebration with thousands of Red Sox fans yelling full-throated from the stands of Dodger Stadium.
Much more coverage to come on BSJ.
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- Alex Cora further explained his reasoning behind starting David Price over Chris Sale tonight. "You start thinking about today and the rest of the series and I think this puts us in a great position to cover everything. David, right now, he's throwing the ball well. He's fresh. Arm-wise and body-wise are at their best moments this season. We saw what he did a few days ago with velocity and in a National League game, we might have to hit for him in the fifth inning or something like that. And if it doesn't happen, he's going to be able to bounce back later on in the series. With Chris, obviously, we'll get one inning today, if needed. It just has to be the perfect situation. And also, if it doesn't happen the way we want it to today, he has extra rest for the next one (on Tuesday). And knowing that we would have Nate (Eovaldi) for Game 7 and with Rick (Porcello) available today (in the bullpen), we're more versatile today. That was the reason. If it was a tied series, we would have gone with our regular starters on regular test -- Chris today, David in Game 6 and Nate in Game 7.''
- The Sox were nervous about Eduardo Rodriguez at the plate Saturday night. Rodriguez swung at a pitch, defying bench orders, as the bat flew out of his hands. He later today Cora: "I was ahead in the count and that was a pitch I could do damage with.'' Said Cora: "I heard a lot of stuff throughout the year and he topped it. Jesus -- he almost killed someone.''
- Asked about Manny Machado spiking Steve Pearce on a play at first base in the ninth inning, Cora said: "I saw it last night. I'll stay away from that. Nobody said anything about it. People sent me pictures and texts. I don't know -- you've got to ask Manny about that one.'' Machado was fined $10,000 for doing the same thing to Milwaukee's Jesus Aguilar in the NLCS. Said Pearce, who was a teammate of Machado's in Baltimore and defended him at the start of the Series, said: "No, I'm all good. I'm all good. That was one heck of a play by (third baseman Rafael) Devers. That was my focus. And I didn't even -- I barely even felt it. No, it wasn't frustrating. I'm glad we got the out.''
- Cora again praised Rodriguez's work Saturday night and again blamed himself for leaving Rodriguez in too long in the sixth inning when he was victimized by a three-run homer from Yasiel Puig. "He was great, man,'' said Cora. "We talk about growing up - that one is going to mean a lot later on his career.''