Dodgers, Red Sox haven’t met often
Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson and the Boys of Summer. Ted Williams to Yaz and the Impossible Dream.
Manny Ramirez. Pedro Martinez. Bill Buckner. Fenway Franks and Dodger Dogs. Ebbets Field, the Green Monster. “Sweet Caroline” or “I Love L.A.”
Yet for all their rich history — dating back to Babe Ruth on the mound — the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers have rarely crossed paths heading into this World Series, which starts Tuesday night in Boston. They have met only once before in October, and that was more than a century ago.
Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw has never pitched at Fenway Park, where the Dodgers have beaten the Red Sox only once. It was on June 12, 2004, and guess who scored and drove in a run for the Dodgers during that 14-5 romp?
Alex Cora, now the rookie manager of the Red Sox. One of his teammates that afternoon was Dave Roberts, who is ready to lead Los Angeles into its second straight Fall Classic.
“Two storied franchises that draw more interest,” Red Sox second baseman Ian Kinsler said Sunday.
Roberts is sure to draw a big cheer when the teams line up for pregame introductions. He’s still a fan favorite in Boston for his daring stolen base that sparked an unprecedented comeback from a 3-0 wins deficit against Mariano Rivera and the rival New York Yankees in the 2004 American League
Championship Series.
The Red Sox went on to end their 86-year title drought by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, boosted by David “Big Papi” Ortiz, Martinez and Ramirez. Now Boston is four wins away from its fourth championship in 15 seasons.
“I’m looking forward to going back to Fenway. Obviously for me personally, I have a lot of fond memories of the Red Sox and Fenway Park,” Roberts said. “To be wearing another uniform going in there playing for a World Series championship is going to be special for me.”
This marks the first time both managers in the World Series have played for each team.
AL MVP candidate Mookie Betts and the Red Sox posted a franchise-record 108 wins during the regular season, a big payoff for the team with MLB’s top payroll. They pushed past New York in their AL Division Series, 3-1, then dispatched the Houston Astros — last year’s World Series winners — in five games in the ALCS, so they’ve been resting since Friday.
A tremendous right fielder, Betts might move to second base when the best-of-seven series shifts to Dodger Stadium. That would be to make room for slugger J.D. Martinez when the Red Sox lose their designated hitter slot in the National League city.
Boston opened as a slight betting favorite over Los Angeles, which needed seven games to get past the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS.
“That’s the best team in the game right now. We respect that,” Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said of the Red Sox. “But know that we’re good.”
Set to pitch the opener for the Red Sox is left-handed ace Chris Sale, who recently spent a night in the hospital because of a stomach illness.
The Dodgers are aiming for their first championship since slugger Kirk Gibson, pitcher Orel Hershiser and manager Tommy Lasorda brought home the crown in 1988.
A year after dropping Game 7 at home to Houston, Justin Turner and the crew with the third-highest payroll beat the Colorado Rockies in a tiebreaker game for the NL West title, chased Atlanta in their NLDS and topped host Milwaukee 5-1 Saturday night in Game 7 for the pennant.
“It doesn’t matter how you get there. But to get to come back and go back from last year, it’s unbelievable,” Kershaw said. “Where we came from this year, it’s a testament to these guys, man. It’s a great group. We’re excited.”
These formidable franchises first tangled for real in the 1916 World Series. The Babe pitched all 14 innings — in a tidy 2 hours, 32 minutes — as Boston beat Brooklyn 2-1 in Game 2. Though Fenway had opened four years earlier, the game was played at Braves Field, home of the city’s NL franchise, because it held more people.
The Red Sox wound up winning in five games. Back then, the Dodgers weren’t really the Dodgers. They were known by a collection of nicknames, and were often called the Robins because of popular manager Wilbert “Uncle Robbie” Robinson. Ruth later coached for them.
The Red Sox are 8-7 against the Dodgers since interleague play began in 1997, and the teams haven’t met since 2016.