Red Sox rally to close in on title
An 18-inning loss in Game 3 of the World Series couldn’t wear out the Boston Red Sox. A four-run deficit late in Game 4 definitely didn’t faze them.
This plucky powerhouse just kept getting big hits to move to the brink of another championship.
Steve Pearce hit a tying homer in the eighth and a three-run double in the ninth, and the Red Sox emphatically rallied for a 9-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday.
Pinch-hitter Rafael Devers singled home Brock Holt with the tiebreaking run in the ninth as Boston roared to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
Game 5 is today at Dodger Stadium, where the Red Sox can claim their fourth title in 15 years.
Shortly after Yasiel Puig’s three-run homer in the sixth put the Dodgers up 4-0, Boston’s incredible surge began with pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland’s three-run homer.
Pearce was an unlikely candidate to become the latest postseason hero in Boston’s lengthy October history, but he did it twice. The 35-year-old journeyman connected off All-star closer Kenley Jansen for the tying homer in the eighth, and he cleared the bases one inning later with a double to the gap.
After this impressive escape, the superlative Boston roster that won 108 regular-season games and then rolled through the 100-win New York Yankees and the defending champion Houston Astros to win the AL pennant is now one win from this formerly tormented franchise’s ninth World Series crown.
Enrique Hernandez hit a tworun homer in the ninth for Los Angeles.
‘‘We’re not out yet,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ‘‘Our guys aren’t done.’’
Less than 17 hours after Max Muncy’s 18th-inning homer for the Dodgers ended the longest game in World Series history at 7 hours, 20 minutes, the teams were back on the field.
Game 4 was only 3 hours, 57 minutes, but had at least as many dramatic twists.
After Dodgers starter Rich Hill baffled Boston with one-hit ball into the seventh inning, Los Angeles was up 4-0 and needing just seven outs to even the series. The Dodgers’ embattled bullpen was shredded by Boston’s bats.
Moreland got the comeback started with his three-run shot off Ryan Madson.
Pearce then repeated the Game 3 feat of Jackie Bradley Jr, who also hit a tying homer off Jansen in the eighth.
Dodger Stadium was already rumbling with tension and fear when Holt doubled in the ninth off losing pitcher Dylan Floro. Devers sent him home with a single to centre – and three batters later, Pearce cleared the bases.
Pearce even scored Boston’s ninth run on Xander Bogaerts’ single, celebrating wildly with his team-mates.