Benintendi benched to make room for Martinez in Game 3
Boston benched left fielder
Andrew Benintendi to make room for major league RBIs leader J.D. Martinez in the outfield as the World Series switched to the National League city for Game 3, resulting in the loss of the designated hitter.
With right-hander Rick Porcello on the mound for the Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts restored his top four home-run hitters to the lineup: left-handed-hitting
Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Max Muncy along with switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal. Lefties Chris Sale and
David Price started the first two games for Boston and the Dodgers became the first team in World Series history to start a batting order of nine right-handed batters, none of them switch hitters.
Boston also benched first baseman Steve Pearce in favor of Mitch Moreland and second baseman Ian Kinsler in favor of Brock Holt. Martinez turned his right ankle in the opener, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday he would wait a day before he decided whether he could play the field. Boston led 2-0 in the Series and was two wins from its fourth title in 15 seasons.
Yelich, Martinez win Hank Aaron Award
Christian Yelich made it to the World Series, just not in the manner he had hoped.
The Milwaukee Brewers slugger accepted the Hank Aaron Award prior to Game 3. Boston's J.D. Martinez was the American League recipient of the award.
Yelich and the Brewers were one game shy of getting to their first World Series since 1982 as they lost to the Dodgers in seven games in the National League Championship Series. Yelich said that he isn't over the disappointment yet, but that he has tried to move on.
Yelich and Martinez won the award despite being in their first seasons with their respective clubs. The award, which is in its 20th year, is presented to the top hitters in each league as determined by a panel of several Hall of Famers and fan voting.
Cespedes has 2nd heel operation
Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has undergone heel surgery, the second of two foot operations the team hopes will enable him to return at some point next year.
The team said Friday the operation to remove bone calcification in the left heel was done in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 33-year-old slugger was limited to 38 games this year and hit .262 with nine homers and 29 RBIs.