McAdam: In a last-minute surprise, it's David Price - and not Chris Sale - for Game 5

LOS ANGELES -- Almost as an afterthought,  Alex Cora casually announced a change to the Red Sox pitching plans late Saturday night.

"David Price is starting (Sunday),'' said Cora at the end of his postgame press conference, following the Red Sox' 9-6 win in Game 4 over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Excuse us?

All along, it had been expected that the Sox were about to start Chris Sale in Sunday's potential clinching Game 5, with the benefit of regular (four days) rest. Instead, the Sox have tapped Price, with Sale available in relief ... or ready for Game 6 if one is necessary.

"We feel like David is good tomorrow,'' said Cora. "He's OK. Chris is good. But it's something we talked about before the game. We talked it before the game and this is a good spot for David, in a National League park, to start a game. Obviously, he's been throwing the ball well. It's not that we're playing with the lead, but we feel that, for the team, for where we're at pitching-wise, it's good to go with David.

"We talked about it the whole day and we decided. I just talked to Chris and David and that's what we're going to do. Chris is OK. Actually, he'll be back there (in the bullpen). If necessary in Game 6, he's the starter.''

Sale was not sharp in Game 1, allowing three runs on five hits in four-plus innings. It was his first start since being hospitalized two weeks ago with some sort of stomach ailment, and his velocity was down, perhaps because of a loss of strength.

He's also been dealing with shoulder inflammation since the end of July, and the Sox may believe that he'll do better with additional rest.

Meanwhile, Price emerged as a stalwart on the mound for the Sox in the World Series. He followed up his pennant-clinching victory in Game 5 of the ALDS in Houston with six strong innings in Game 2 of the Series, allowing just two runs.

Then, Price pitched out of the bullpen in Friday night's marathon, going two-thirds of an inning. And he was warming some late Saturday as the Red Sox mounted their late comeback win over the Dodgers.

There was sign that the Sox were contemplating such a switch earlier in the day.

Traditionally, starting pitchers for the following day are made available in the interview room prior to the previous game and sure enough, Sale took his traditional spot on the podium, sounding for all the world like someone who was set to pitch Sunday night.

Instead, it will be fellow lefty Price, matched up against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.

That will make this World Series just the second to feature four games in which both starters are lefthanded