Cora surprises by naming Price for Sox’s Game 5 starter
LOS ANGELES — “David Price is pitching tomorrow.’’
That’s what Red Sox manager Alex Cora dropped on the way out of a postgame press conference after a 9-6 victory over the Dodgers moved his club to within a win of copping a World Series title.
Until Cora said those words, staff ace Chris Sale was slated to start Game 5 on Sunday against the Dodgers. Several hours before Cora’s bombshell, Sale was brought into the pregame interview room to talk about the start.
Now the Dodgers will see Price, who limited them to two runs and three hits in six innings in Game 2, which the Red Sox won 4-2.
“It was something we talked about before the game, and this is a good spot for David in a National League park to start the game,” said Cora, who explained Sale, who had shoulder issues during the regular season and a stomach problem earlier in the postseason was fine. “Obviously, [Price] has been throwing the ball well. It’s not that we are playing with the lead, but we feel for the team, for where we are at pitching-wise, it’s good to go with David. Chris is OK. If necessary in Game 6, he will be the starter.’’
Mariano Rivera knows he will be on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot when they are mailed in December — after all, baseball’s all-time saves leader, with 652, is a lock to be a first ballot selection.
When The Post asked Rivera what he thought of being on the ballot for the first time, the 13-time All Star simply smiled and said, “Maybe” on the field prior to Game 4 of the World Series between the Red Sox and Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
After 18 innings and seven hours and 20 minutes in Game 3, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made Game 4 batting practice 30 minutes instead of an hour and left it up to his players if they wanted to participate.
The Red Sox’s loss in Game 3 stopped a five-game road winning streak in this year’s postseason. The Red Sox won two ALDS games against the Yankees in The Bronx and took three ALCS games from the Astros in Houston. That was the longest postseason road winning streak in club history.