Red Sox get Sale back for Series
HOUSTON — David Price, at last, looked like a postseason ace. Craig Kimbrel pitched a lockdown inning. And much-maligned Jackie Bradley Jr. became an MVP.
Most everything went right for the Red Sox as they sailed into the World Series. Now the big question for Boston: Is everything all right with ace Chris Sale?
“We’re not perfect. That’s the cool thing about this team. We feel that we can keep improving. And we have one more series to go,” manager Alex Cora said.
On his 43rd birthday, Cora became the first manager from Puerto Rico to take a team to the World Series. The club that led the majors with 108 wins this season eliminated the defending champion Houston Astros with a 4-1 victory, taking the American League Championship Series 4-1. Chris Sale, who spent time in the hospital because of a stomach illness, is expected to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Red Sox.
Game 1 of the World Series is Tuesday night at Fenway Park. Those extra days off at home will give Sale even more time to rest up.
The seven-time All-Star has been regaining strength since his release Monday from Massachusetts General Hospital, where he spent Sunday night for observation because of a stomach illness. The club hasn’t specified Sale’s ailment or treatment.
Cora said before Thursday night’s game that the lefty ace was prepared for his next start — either in the ALCS or the World Series opener.
“We knew the skinny guy was ready for Game 6,” Cora said after Price and the Red Sox finished off the Astros.
Sale went 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA this season, but was limited down the stretch because of shoulder trouble. His velocity dipped in the playoffs, where he won the AL Division Series opener against the New York Yankees and also relieved in the clinching Game 4.
Sale lost the ALCS opener to Houston, working four uneven innings. After recently losing weight, he threw on flat ground Thursday, leading Cora to say Sale was ready.
The rest of the Red Sox look locked in.
Price had been 0-9 with a 6.16 ERA in 11 career postseason starts before holding Houston to three hits in six shutout innings Thursday, striking out nine.
Kimbrel, who’s had some shaky outings lately, threw a hitless ninth for his fifth save this postseason. Boston slugger J.D. Martinez homered, and star outfielders Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi made running catches in the clincher.
Bradley batted just .200, and his three hits were the fewest for any position player to win MVP of a league championship series. But he did plenty of damage with a grand slam, two-run homer and a three-run double.