The Maui News - Weekender

• Xander Bogaerts and Eduardo Rodriguez lead the Red Sox to an 8-1 win over the Dodgers.

- By DOUG ALDEN The Associated Press

BOSTON — The first round of the rematch between Los Angeles and Boston turned out much like the 2018 World Series. The Red Sox beat the Dodgers handily.

Xander Bogaerts hit a threerun homer, Eduardo Rodriguez struck out 10 and the Red Sox beat the Dodgers 8-1 Friday.

“We have to come out aggressive because we know these guys are one of the best teams in the game,” Bogaerts said. “Obviously, they’re going to come here, try to beat us pretty bad for last year. I think it was a good way for us to start.”

The Red Sox, who beat the Dodgers in five games to win their ninth World Series title, returned from the All-Star break with their fifth straight victory.

Rafael Devers and Christian Vazquez also homered for the Red Sox, who broke the game open with a five-run rally that was interrupte­d by a one-hour rain delay in the seventh inning.

“That was a good baseball game all around,” manager Alex Cora said. “We did a good job putting together atbats. We ran the bases well, played good defense and obviously Eddie was outstandin­g on the mound.”

Rodriguez (10-4) tied his season high for strikeouts and held the Dodgers to five hits in seven innings. He has won four straight decisions and is the only Boston pitcher with 10 victories this season.

“He just kept pounding the zone,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “He threw the ball well. He mixed and matched with both sides of the plate.”

The Dodgers were well represente­d in their return to Boston with enough blue-andwhite clad fans to drown out “Red Sox” during the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Red Sox fans countered with Boston’s signature “Beat LA!” chant, and the Red Sox did just that, topping the club with the best record in the majors.

“It was fun. It was good. I think everyone contribute­d,” Bogaerts said.

The Red Sox have won six of seven. The Dodgers lost their fourth straight and fell to 1-6 all-time in regular-season games at Fenway Park.

Alex Verdugo hit his 10th

homer and Kenta Maeda struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings for the Dodgers.

Maeda (7-6) struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings. Maeda allowed three runs, two on solo homers by Devers and Vazquez that hit the giant ads

on top of the Green Monster.

“The first homer I gave up, I caught a little too much of the plate,” Maeda said through a translator. “The second one was a 3-2 count. I felt like I needed to throw a strike and it ended up as a homer.”

 ?? AP photo ?? Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox delivers in the first inning of Boston’s 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.
AP photo Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox delivers in the first inning of Boston’s 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

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