Red Sox head to Series
Price dominates as club earns 1st trip since last win in ’13
HOUSTON — David Price put his postseason woes behind him, pitching the Red Sox back into another World Series with a 4-1 victory over the defending champion Astros on Thursday night.
Rafael Devers hit a three-run homer as the Red Sox stunned Justin Verlander and the Astros in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series to win the best-ofseven set 4-1.
It was a perfect 43rd birthday present for rookie manager Alex Cora, who became the first skipper from Puerto Rico to take a team to the World Series.
ALCS MVP Jackie Bradley Jr., outfielder Mookie Betts and the 108-win Red Sox will try to bring the club its fourth crown in 15 years when they open the World Series on Tuesday at Fenway Park against the Dodgers or Brewers.
The Red Sox were last in the World Series when they won it all in 2013.
“We got four more wins. That was very, very special, absolutely. But we want more,” Price said.
After dropping the opener at home, the Red Sox took four straight — including three in a row at Minute Maid Park to improve to 5-0 on the road in these playoffs.
Left fielder Andrew Benintendi caught a long fly for the last out — not nearly as dramatic as his gamesaving diving grab the previous night.
There was a smattering of boos from the home crowd as the Red Sox charged onto the field, embracing RESULTS as they jumped around near the middle of the diamond. They posed for a team picture on the mound a couple of minutes later as members of Astros’ pitching staff slowly walked by, glancing at the revelry on their way back from the bullpen.
“They beat us. We ran out of wins,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said.
Pitching on only three days’ rest after Red Sox ace Chris Sale was ruled out while recovering from a stomach illness, Price struck out nine in six shutout innings of three-hit ball. The left-hander entered 0-9 with a 6.16 ERA in 11 career postseason starts.
Sale is set to start Game 1 of the Series.