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IT’s L.A.

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LA Dodgers 5, Milwaukee 1

When: 8:09 PM ET, Saturday, October 20, 2018
Where: Miller Park, Milwaukee
Attendance: 44,097
Recap for Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media
Embed from Getty Images

MILWAUKEE — The Los Angeles Dodgers booked a return trip to the World Series behind steady power and sturdy pitching on Saturday, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.

Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig hit home runs to back a strong effort from rookie right-hander Walker Buehler and four relievers, sending the Dodgers to the Fall Classic in consecutive years for the first time since 1977-78. Game 1 of the World Series against the Red Sox is set for Tuesday night at Fenway Park in Boston.

Bellinger was recognized as NLCS MVP. Though he hit .200 in the series, his home run on Saturday accounted for the go-ahead run, and he had the game-winning hit in the 13th inning of Game 4.

Puig had three of the Dodgers’ 10 hits, none bigger than a three-run home run in the sixth inning that gave Los Angeles a 5-1 lead. Buehler helped set the tone for the pitching staff with a strong start, limiting the Brewers to one run and six hits in 4 2/3 innings while striking out seven.

Brewers right fielder Christian Yelich opened the scoring with one out in the first inning, delighting the sellout crowd of 44,097 by smacking a solo home run to right field. The ball narrowly escaped Puig’s leaping attempt at the wall.

The Dodgers responded in the top of the second, however, as Bellinger hit a two-run homer into the second deck in right to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. Shortstop Manny Machado started the rally by bunting down the third base line on a 3-2 count to beat a defensive shift.

Brewers right-hander Jhoulys Chacin worked out of further trouble to end the inning, which proved to be his final action of the game. Manager Craig Counsell pinch-hit for Chacin with two on and two out in the bottom of the second, but Jonathan Schoop grounded out to end the threat.

Chacin (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits in two innings, walking one. A fully rested Josh Hader followed and kept the Brewers afloat by continuing a dominant postseason.

Pitching for the first time since Game 4, Hader struck out four, walked one and allowed one hit in three innings of scoreless relief. The All-Star left-hander fanned 16 of the 35 batters he faced in 10 shutout innings over seven playoff appearances. He allowed five hits and walked one.

Hader entered the on-deck circle to potentially hit in the bottom of the fifth, but was removed for a pinch hitter after Orlando Arcia grounded out to start the inning.

Largely reliable throughout the regular season stretch run and into October, the Brewers’ bullpen stumbled one inning later as Puig lined a three-run home run to left field against Jeremy Jeffress with two outs. Puig pumped his arms exuberantly as he rounded the bases.

Los Angeles’ rally came on the heels of Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor’s dazzling defensive play to end a prime Milwaukee scoring chance in the fifth. With two out and the potential tying run on second base, Yelich drilled an opposite-field line drive to the left field gap against Julio Urias.

Taylor ranged toward the ball to make a sliding, over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track.

Urias, Ryan Madson, Kenley Jansen and Clayton Kershaw combined for 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Madson (1-0) earned the victory, scattering one hit and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers stood at 16-26 on May 16 and did not climb over .500 until June 10. They took sole possession of the National League West lead for the first time on July 13 but battled with the Colorado Rockies for the division crown through the end of the regular season.

Los Angeles clinched its sixth successive division title with a home victory against the Rockies in the NL West tiebreaker game.

The Brewers also needed a 163rd regular-season game to outlast the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central title, earning the club’s third postseason berth since moving to the National League in 1998. The Brewers were seeking their first World Series berth since 1982.

–Kevin Druley, Field Level Media

DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The LEDE: Just Waiting on a Friend

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By Terry Lyons, Editor-in-Chief

BOSTON – In an era when full disclosure is constantly touted as the right thing to do but full scale lying is the modus operandi, I will admit, I thought the Houston Astros would be awaiting the results of the National League Championship Series. I thought the Boston Red Sox were extremely fortunate to advance past the New York Yankees and I thought the ‘Stros would discard of the Sox in five games., especially after the 7-2 beatdown in Game 1 of the ALCS.

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Will the Red Sox win in 2018?

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I am a man of truth, justice and full disclosure.

Now, after truthfully stating my transgressions, it makes all the sense in the world for me to take a tip from the daily operation of the Oval and gaslight you all by stating the exact opposite of my prior prediction. I think the Red Sox will be World Series champions and they will do it in six games over either the Milwaukee Brewers (my choice) or the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yes, as we await Tuesday night, which seems, oh, so far away, I’m reversing the engines and picking the Sox. Yes, that might be worse than the Curse of the Bambino, but I’m now convinced this team can win. So, go out to your bookies and bet the ranch on the NL pennant winner, right?

Wrong.

As the MLB Postseason began, I thought the only advantage the Red Sox had over Houston was the fact they played the Baltimore Orioles so often. I thought the Astros had all the ingredients to repeat. I was in awe of the Sox offense but pessimistic on everything else, namely the starting pitching (ailing Chris Sale, unproven in postseason David Price, trending in the wrong direction Rick Porcello and un-tested in the playoffs Nathan Eovaldi).

I was even more suspect of the middle relievers and the closer, Craig Kimbrel.

As the postseason began, I thought the announcement of knuckleballer-turned-reliever Steven Wright being IR’d being played to all that would listen as a full-scaled  ‘setback’ to the club’s future was an indication that all was not well past the Nikon sign. A day after Sox manager Alex Cora stated they chose to boot Heath Hembree off the roster (a ‘la keeping the ball in the park), they re-activated Hembree with a dispensation from the Pope, saying all was wrong with Wright and all was right with Hembree.

The thought the smokescreen emanating from the Sox that the Hembree for Wright switcheroo actually mattered was what pointed me towards an outright and decisive pick of the guys from Johnson Space Center. Days later, I realized Mission Control in Houston had their own concerns for every hurler south of Justin Verlander and what Alex Bregman, George Springer, Carlos Correa and a hammy-laden Jose Altuve couldn’t do was fix-up a bullpen of Josh James, Roberto Osuna and the man of 27.00 ERA Joe Smith.

Now, we find ourselves waiting around.

Cora will use the down-time to rest his ailing, stomach-bug infested ace, in Sale. He’ll also use the luxury of time to tune-up Price for a Game 2 start at Fenway where Sox Nation can finally pay homage to the player they’ve loved to hate. All the while, the video tape machines will be humming to see if they can zoom-in on the exact twitch in Kimbrel’s delivery to be sure he is ready to face the bats of the National Leaguers.

As Sox Nation waits, we too wait and pass the time.

How so?

Late night will allow time to see what the Boston Bruins are up to as they forge through the great Canadian west, having incurred losses at Calgary and Edmonton but facing-off against the Canucks of Vancouver tonight. That 21-year old Connor McDavid is really something, isn’t he? While we weren’t paying attention, the Bs put together a nice four-game winning streak before embarking on their trip westward.

Sadly, with all the attention merited by the Sox, the New England Patriots and the expectations for the Boston Celtics in the NBA marathon that ends when it’s 90-degrees again, not much has been said about the big, bad Bruins. They, too, have high hopes.

Today, with the temperature rising from 30-degrees to 60, we were ready to head out to Alumni Stadium to watch the Eagles of Boston College but they have a bye week in a short NCAA Football season. Maybe next time, BC.

Apparently, there’s a Boxing Match at TD Garden this evening. Nothing says boxing in Boston like scheduling a card that could’ve and, very much should’ve, gone up against Game 6 of the ALCS. A little luck of the Irish (see Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys as promotor and Danny O’Connor, a wonderful, local fighter unfortunately sidelined tonight because of injury) might allow a nice walk-up at the Garden.

Instead, dear Dropkicks, we’ll be watching the LA Dodgers at Milwaukee in Game 7, for the right to lose to the Boston Red Sox (in six) at Fenway Park.

 

 

 

 

Red Sox Clinch World Series Berth: Commencing Countdown …

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Boston 4, Houston 1

When: 8:09 PM ET, Thursday, October 18, 2018
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 43,210
Recap for Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media
Embed from Getty Images

HOUSTON — Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. spoke with an earnestness that belied his influence on the American League Championship Series, a sincerity that did not fully reflect the potency of his bat or the damage he wrought in helping dethrone his opponent, the defending champion Houston Astros.

Even a hitless Game 5 could not diminish his impact. It was Bradley who slugged Boston to three consecutive wins prior to Thursday. It was Bradley who set the table for J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers and David Price to put the finishing touches on the Astros with a 4-1 victory at Minute Maid Park and 4-1 series win that clinched the Red Sox’s 14th pennant.

The Red Sox will host the National League champion, either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Milwaukee Brewers, in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday at Fenway Park. Bradley, the ALCS Most Valuable Player after producing three extra-base hits and nine two-out RBIs to spearhead wins in Games 2-4, will remain integral to their title hopes.

“Speechless,” Bradley said. “It’s amazing. I have amazing teammates, amazing staff. Everybody’s such a blessing.

“This is what we set out to do when we come to spring training. And we battled — we’ve been battle-tested, played against a lot of great ball teams. This is definitely a special moment.”

The Astros were such a team, looking for a second consecutive World Series title after posting a franchise-record 103 wins during the season and unceremoniously dispatching the Cleveland Indians in a one-sided sweep of the AL Division Series.

Houston rallied in the latter innings to claim victory in Game 1 of the ALCS at Boston and led 4-2 in the third inning of Game 2 before Bradley delivered a three-run double off Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole and a seismic shift in series momentum. Once ignited, the Red Sox attack did not relent.

Bradley slugged a grand slam in a five-run eighth inning in Game 3 before drilling a two-run, sixth-inning homer that gave the Red Sox the lead for good in Game 4.

In Game 5, the Astros deployed ace right-hander Justin Verlander (1-1) to keep their postseason aspirations afloat, but Martinez blasted a 1-2 curveball with one out in the third inning for a 1-0 Red Sox lead.

Verlander had logged 26 consecutive scoreless innings in elimination games for the Astros and Detroit Tigers, going 4-1 with a 1.21 ERA in those starts. The Red Sox were undaunted, and when Devers followed hits by Mitch Moreland (leadoff double) and Ian Kinsler (opposite-field single to right) with a first-pitch, three-run shot in the sixth, Boston led 4-0 and was on its way.

Price (1-0), universally maligned because of his 0-9 record and 6.16 ERA over 11 career postseason starts, was brilliant in his second appearance of the series.

The lefty worked around a two-out single by Jose Altuve in the first inning and a leadoff single from Yuli Gurriel in the second. Price retired eight consecutive batters after Gurriel reached safely, and he recovered to strike out Marwin Gonzalez with a 2-2 changeup after Gurriel doubled with two outs in the fourth.

Price then retired the Astros in order in the fifth and sixth to complete his night. He surrendered no runs on three hits and no walks while striking out nine. He posted 15 swinging strikes, 12 on his changeup.

“It’s one of the most special days I’ve ever had on the baseball field,” Price said. “So very special.

“(The changeup) was good. It was good in the bullpen warming up; it got better as the game went on. Made some adjustments with it, I think, after the fourth inning, and it was huge.”

Gonzalez homered off Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes in the seventh inning before Game 3 winner Nathan Eovaldi emerged from the bullpen to toss 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Boston closer Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth inning, earning his fifth save of the postseason and third of the ALCS.

Verlander wasn’t sharp with his secondary offerings, earning just one swing and miss on 19 curveballs, and one of the four put in play cleared the fence on the Martinez dinger. Still, he kept the Astros in contention until the sixth, when Boston, as it did all series, broke through.

The Red Sox tallied 27 runs in their four victories, running roughshod over a terrific Astros pitching staff that enjoyed historic success relative to run prevention during the regular season.

“They have a great lineup. If you don’t execute, they’re going to find ways to hurt you,” Verlander said after allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings. “Honestly, I thought it was a pretty good series. We had a chance in the ninth inning almost every game.

“We played good baseball. We did everything that we could possibly do. They won. It happens.”

Having their repeat hopes derailed at home was a bitter pill to swallow for the Astros, who overcame injuries to their frontline stars (Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer) while posting a second consecutive 100-win season. The same resilience that carried Houston to the title last postseason was on display throughout this year. Ultimately, the Red Sox, who won a franchise-record 108 games in the regular season, proved to be superior.

“They beat us,” Astros third baseman Alex Bregman said. “We didn’t have enough this year.

“Everyone in here will wake up tomorrow (upset) that we didn’t win and we’re not headed to Boston on a flight. It’s tough, but all of us need to look in a mirror and figure out a way to get better for next year.”

–MoiseKapenda Bower, Field Level Media

ALCS: Elimination Game?

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Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros

When: 8:09 PM ET, Thursday, October 18, 2018
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote
Embed from Getty Images

David Price

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HOUSTON – The Boston Red Sox look to clinch a berth in the World Series for the first time since 2013 when they visit the Houston Astros for Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday. Andrew Benintendi made a game-saving diving catch of Alex Bregman’s liner to left field with the bases loaded for the final out of Wednesday’s dramatic 8-6 triumph.

Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning of Game 4, giving him two blasts and nine RBIs over his last three games. “I’m just trying to stay within itself,” Bradley said in a postgame television interview, “(and) get good pitches to swing at and make contact.” The Astros were hurt Wednesday by a controversial fan-interference call that turned Jose Altuve’s would-be two-run, first-inning homer to right field into an out as Boston’s Mookie Betts reached above the fence to try and catch the ball. “Once the fan reaches past that line of the fence, we’re going to penalize hitters every time,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said in his postgame press conference regarding the call by right-field umpire Joe West. “Joe saw the play as interference. He called that on the field. When they went to replay, they confirmed it. There’s no mechanism for me to change their minds, change their interpretation, change the fact that I thought the ball was a row or two in the stands.”

TV: 8:09 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH David Price (0-1, 9.95 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (2-0, 3.18)

Price warmed up during the final two innings of Game 4 but wasn’t used as he draws the start in Game 5 after ace Chris Sale (stomach) was ruled out as a possibility on Wednesday. “We’re good with him,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of Price in his postgame press conference. “He’s prepared. He understands what’s going on, he understands that Chris can’t go (Thursday) and he’s ready to take the ball.” The 33-year-old Price is 0-9 in 11 career postseason starts following a no-decision in Game 2 in which he gave up four runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Verlander defeated the Red Sox in Game 1, giving up two runs and two hits over six innings. The 35-year-old stated he doesn’t see an issue with facing a team a second time in a series, but he still will tinker with his game plan. “Especially (against) these guys, a team that’s really good at making adjustments, making adjustments quickly,” Verlander said during his press conference. “There are definitely unique challenges. They know my strengths. They know my weaknesses. I know theirs.”

WALK-OFFS

1. Sale tentatively is slated to start a potential Game 6 at home on Saturday.

2. Houston CF George Springer belted his first homer of the series in Game 4 and is a stellar 13-for-31 with four blasts in the team’s seven postseason contests.

3. Boston RHP Craig Kimbrel recorded the first six-out save of his career on Wednesday but allowed one run, two hits and three walks while notching one strikeout.

INTENSE!

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Boston 8, Houston 6

When: 8:39 PM ET, Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston
Attendance: 43,277
Recap for Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media
Embed from Getty Images

HOUSTON — The cumulative effect of so many close calls seemingly favoring their opponent seems to be wearing thin on the Houston Astros. It’s only a game of inches when there is balance in that distribution; when that outlay appears skewed, frustration can manifest.

The Astros witnessed those delicate inches work against them on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The first instance where distance mattered came in the bottom of the first inning; two more unfolded in the eighth and the ninth before the Boston Red Sox sealed their 8-6 victory and secured a commanding 3-1 series lead.

In the bottom of the first, with Boston having already scratched across two runs off right-hander Charlie Morton, who recorded just seven outs in his first start since Sept. 30, the Astros fashioned what seemed a hasty response against Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello.

With a runner on first and one out, Jose Altuve drilled a deep fly ball to right field, and Boston’s Mookie Betts made a leaping stab for it at the wall.

Betts’ glove, the baseball and a collection of hands attached to eager fans met simultaneously, and right field umpire Joe West ruled fan interference, robbing Altuve of a game-tying, two-run home run.

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Despite what looked to be clear evidence that Betts reached into the stands on his attempt, a replay review upheld the initial call on the field, and Porcello escaped the inning unscathed.

“When I hit the ball, I was expecting to tie the game. I thought I did,” Altuve said. “They called an out. It’s tough. That was two runs in the first inning that would have helped us a bit more.”

Ultimately, the Astros clawed back from a 3-1 deficit via solo home runs from George Springer in the third inning and Tony Kemp in the fourth, both off Porcello. Carlos Correa produced two RBI singles, the second of which came against the Red Sox’s Joe Kelly (1-1), drove in Yuli Gurriel and lifted the Astros to a 5-4 lead in the fifth. That advantage was short-lived.

Boston center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. struck the decisive blow for a third consecutive game, smacking a first-pitch changeup from Astros right-hander Josh James (0-1) into the right field seats with two outs in the sixth inning to swing the pendulum back toward the Red Sox.

James had limited Boston to one run after entering in relief of Morton in the third inning. However, after recording two quick outs in the sixth, he surrendered a double to Christian Vazquez before Bradley pounced on James’ off-speed offering. The flame-throwing James averaged 99.4 mph over 23 fastballs.

Bradley supplied the Red Sox a 6-5 lead with his two-run shot, his second home run in as many games and third game-altering extra-base hit in the series. He slugged an eighth-inning grand slam in Boston’s 8-2 Game 3 win and hit a third-inning, three-run double in the Red Sox’s 7-5 Game 2 victory.

“I’m very proud of him,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Bradley. “What he’s done in the second part of the season and what he’s done tonight and in this series, it’s amazing. He keeps working on his craft, his swing. He understands now, he’s staying through the ball, hitting the ball in the air. There’s no more hitting line drives into the shift. Now he hits the ball in the air.”

When the Astros refused to wilt, despite Boston extending to an 8-5 lead in the eighth, the Red Sox turned to their sparkling outfield defense.

Kemp attempted to stretch a leadoff single into a double in the eighth, and Betts barely threw him out, a key out considering the Astros scored later that frame against Boston closer Craig Kimbrel.

When Houston loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, Kimbrel surrendered a first-pitch, sinking line drive to Alex Bregman. Andrew Benintendi snagged it with a game-saving, diving catch in left field.

“We take all the pride in the world,” Betts said of the outfield defense. “It wins games like it did today. It’s just one of those things where it just takes effort. We’re all athletes that give effort.”

Favorable close calls aside, the Red Sox are on the cusp of their first AL pennant since 2013 because of their offensive attack. The Astros allowed the fewest runs (534) of any AL staff in a non-strike season since the designated hitter was instituted in 1973. The Red Sox have laid waste to that pitching, scoring 23 runs — 16 via two-out RBIs — over Games 2-4.

“Their offense is relentless,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “It’s been relentless since March since we first saw them in spring training. Getting through them, getting through the at-bats, you watch them hang in there. They draw walks when you shy away from the zone. They get two-out hits. They’re a full offense to deal with on a nightly basis. That’s what’s going on.”

–MoiseKapenda Bower, Field Level Media

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