YES, The Red Sox Beat Dodgers to Win 9th World Series Title Behind Dominant David Price.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora unexpectedly called on David Price instead of Chris Sale to start the fifth game of the Fall Classic, and the gambit paid off, as Price pitched seven-plus innings, allowing one earned run and striking out five batters.
The five-time All-Star seemed to know exactly what was on the line. He wasn’t just pitching to get the Red Sox another title; he was attempting to exorcise the ghosts of Octobers past. And in the space of a few weeks, Price has immortalized himself forever in Boston.
With seven-plus innings of wonderful pitching in which he allowed a run and three hits, Price beat the Dodgers for the second time in the Series on Sunday night. He also was the winning pitcher in Game 2. Price can opt out of the final three years of his contract, worth $95 million, and test the free-agent market if he wants to. It wasn’t that long ago Red Sox fans would have paid Price to leave. Now they might start a fund to keep him.
David Price walked off the mound in the eighth inning with his head up on Sunday night as the thousands of Red Sox fans at Dodger Stadium cheered wildly.
After a few steps he slapped his left hand over his heart once, twice and then a third time and walked down the dugout steps to the eager embrace of his teammates.
Price did what he came to Boston to do, pitching the Red Sox to a World Series championship as they beat the Los Angels Dodgers, 5-1.
The lefthander allowed one run over seven dominant innings, winning for the second time in the Series to banish the postseason demons of years past.
The Red Sox initially planned to start Sale but switched to Price after winning Game 4 on Saturday night.
The lefthander started Game 2 on Wednesday and threw 88 pitches, then got two outs in relief in Game 3. But he wanted the ball despite the workload.
“David right now, he’s throwing the ball well. He’s fresh as far as his arm, body-wise and arm-wise,” Cora said before Sunday’s game.
The Sox felt Price would manage the Dodgers lineup well based on his strong performance in Game 2, when he allowed two runs over six innings.
The change also gave Sale extra rest if the Series returned to Boston. Given his shoulder and stomach ailments, the Sox took advantage of their position.
Had the Series been tied, Cora said the Sox would have pitched Sale.
It’s hard to imagine Sale could have been any better than Price, who commanded the strike zone and worked at what for him was a swift pace.
He allowed only three hits, one on a misjudged fly ball, walked two, and struck out five. Price retired 14 Dodgers in a row before finally coming out in the eighth inning.
With seven-plus innings of wonderful pitching in which he allowed a run and three hits, Price beat the Dodgers for the second time in the Series on Sunday night. He also was the winning pitcher in Game 2. Price can opt out of the final three years of his contract, worth $95 million, and test the free-agent market if he wants to. It wasn’t that long ago Red Sox fans would have paid Price to leave. Now they might start a fund to keep him.
Prior to the start of the 2018 season, some Red Sox fans were probably hoping Price would opt out of the remaining four years and $127 million on his contract. Now, those same fans will be worried the veteran left-hander might see just how much his World Series performance is worth on the open market.
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David Taylor Price is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Price was selected first overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays and made his MLB debut in September 2008. He has also played for the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays.
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