Lefty E-Rod loses steam
Homer in sixth a downer
LOS ANGELES — With their pitching staff completely depleted after a marathon Game 3 loss, the Red Sox got everything they could have asked for out of Eduardo Rodriguez last night. But in a risky move made by Alex Cora that will be debated back and forth, the decision to keep the lefthander out in the sixth inning proved to be too dicey. After throwing five scoreless innings in his first start in his first start in more than a month, it was all spoiled when Rodriguez gave up four runs in the sixth inning -- including a back-breaking three-run blast by Yasiel Puig that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 4-0 lead in Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium. The Red Sox responded when Mitch Moreland belted a three-run homer off Ryan Madson in the seventh, and the Dodgers led 4-3 into the late innings, looking to even this World Series at a game a piece. Nathan Eovaldi was originally slated to start Game 4, but after the righty threw six innings of relief in extras of Game 3, Cora called on the lefty Rodriguez, who pitched six pitches of relief the night prior. Rodriguez had worked out of the bullpen for the last six weeks, and had not made a start since Sept. 20 against the Yankees. The lefty didn’t look to be rusty through five innings. The velocity on his fastball was strong, though it dipped later in his outing. He struck out six in a sorely needed performance after the Red Sox pitchers were completely taxed. But then it all came unglued in the sixth. Rodriguez plunked David Freese on his first pitch of the inning, but bounced back to strike out Max Muncy on three pitches. Then Rodriguez ran into his first real trouble of the game. Justin Turner ripped a 1-1 fastball from Rodriguez just fair down the left-field line, which put runners on second and third with one out, the first runners in scoring position for either side in the game. The Red Sox then opted to intentionally walk Manny Machado to load the bases, but Cora gave no indication he was taking out Rodriguez. Pitching coach Dana LeVangie came out for a mound visit, but that was it. Still, Rodriguez nearly worked himself out of the jam. He induced a hard grounder to Cody Bellinger, who ripped it to first base to Steve Pearce, who threw home for the force out. But Christian Vazquez didn’t have a great angle on the potential inning-ending double play, and his throw to first sailed by Pearce down the line, scoring Turner for the go-ahead run. Still, the Red Sox opted to keep Rodriguez in the game for Puig, and the Dodgers’ power bat provided the death blow. He smoked Rodriguez’ 3-1 fastball to left, and Dodger Stadium erupted. Rodriguez threw his glove to the ground in frustration and he was promptly hooked. The Red Sox offense was again dormant against the Dodgers starter, as Rich Hill threw 61/3 innings and gave up just one hit in a terrific performance. But one pitch allowed the Sox to get right back into it. Dave Roberts turned to Ryan Madson, and the reliever who’s struggled in this World Series continued his woes. After Scott Alexander issued a one-out walk to Brock Holt to put two runners on, Madson came on and got Jackie Bradley Jr. out on a pop up. But that brought up Mitch Moreland, pinch-hitting for pitcher Matt Barnes, and the righty crushed a firstpitch changeup deep to right. It was Moreland’s first home run, which went a projected 437 feet, since Aug. 22.