Pearce rallies Sox for 3-1 Series lead
RED SOX 9, DODGERS 6
LOS ANGELES — An 18-inning loss in Game 3 of the World Series couldn’t wear out the Boston Red Sox. A four-run deficit late in Game 4 definitely didn’t faze them.
This plucky powerhouse just kept getting big hits to move to the brink of another championship.
Steve Pearce hit a tying home run in the eighth and a three-run double in the ninth, and the Red Sox emphatically rallied for a 9-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.
Pinch-hitter Rafael Devers singled home Brock Holt with the tiebreaking run in the ninth as Boston roared to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
Game 5 is today at Dodger Stadium, where the Red Sox have a chance to close out a spectacular season with their
fourth title in 15 years.
Shortly after Yasiel Puig’s three-run home run in the sixth put the Dodgers up 4-0, Boston’s incredible surge began with pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland’s three-run home run.
Pearce was an unlikely candidate to become the latest postseason hero in Boston’s lengthy October history, but he did it twice. The 35-year-old journeyman connected off All-Star closer Kenley Jansen for the tying home run in the eighth, and he cleared the bases one inning later with a double to the gap.
Enrique Hernandez hit a two-run home run in the ninth for Los Angeles, which could become the first team to lose the World Series on its home field in back-toback seasons since the New York Giants lost at the Polo Grounds to the Yankees in 1936 and 1937.
Devers added a big defensive play in the ninth when he slid to stop Manny Machado’s hard grounder at third before throwing across the diamond to get the Dodgers slugger for the second out. Craig Kimbrel then got Cody Bellinger on a fly to end it, leaving Puig in the on-deck circle.
Less than 17 hours after Max Muncy’s 18th-inning home run for the Dodgers ended the longest game in World Series history at 7 hours, 20 minutes, the teams were back on the field in Chavez Ravine.
Muncy went 1 for 5 in Game 4 after his early-morning heroics for the Dodgers, who must overcome a 3-1 deficit to end their 30-year championship drought. Only six teams have accomplished the feat in the World Series, although the Chicago Cubs did it just two years ago.
After Dodgers starter Rich Hill baffled Boston with onehit ball into the seventh inning, Los Angeles was up 4-0 and needing just seven outs to even the series. The Dodgers’ embattled bullpen was shredded by Boston’s bats.
Moreland got the comeback started with his threerun shot off Ryan Madson.
Pearce then repeated the Game 3 feat of Jackie Bradley Jr., who also hit a tying home run off Jansen in the eighth.
Dodger Stadium was already rumbling with tension and fear when Holt doubled in the ninth off Dylan Floro. Devers sent him home with a single to center — and three batters later, Pearce cleared the bases.