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LOS ANGELES – Twenty-two days ago, David Price was booed from the Fenway Park mound. He had only 10 strikers in his debut against the Yankees in the Division Series, had scored two home runs and was starting in the second inning, while disgruntled fans recalled his playoff record. He fell to 0-9 when the Red Sox lost that game.
While Clayton Kershaw starts a start in Game 5 that could set his legacy in LA, the Dodgers' performance in the playoffs is marked by highlights and disappointments.
The Dodgers are at a loss to see their title hopes dashed by a Red Sox offense that has crushed their register. Can LA extend the series or will Boston celebrate a title?
From the Wild Cards round to the World Series, we'll be covering the 2018 playoffs.
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He is now looking to present the Boston Red Sox at the World Series Championship.
After Boston's remarkable comeback over the last three innings against the Dodgers in Game 4, coach Alex Cora closed his post-game press conference by announcing a surprise: Price and not Chris Sale will start the fifth match.
"We talked about it before the game and it's a good starting point for David, in a National League park, to start a game," said Cora. "Obviously, he throws the ball well.It's not that we play with the head, but we think for the team because we are well placed to launch, that's fine to go with David. "
The explanation seems a little lacking, especially since it means starting Price on three days of rest – not to mention its relief appearance of 13 shots in the third match – instead of Sale on a normal four day rest . But we also know enough about some facts that make Boston's decision probably related to the health of Sale's left shoulder. His speed was reduced, his command was extinguished, they do not want him to swing the stick, his ability to dive into the game is probably limited, he had stomach sickness, a few days more rest would not be the worst of ideas.
This does not mean that the fifth match will be entirely dedicated to Price, who will try to earn his place in the legend of the Red Sox, alongside Roberts or Bloody Sock or heroes of Big Papi. If we learned anything about this Red Sox training, it is that 25 people have contributed – OK, 24 years old, because we are still waiting for the arrival of Drew Pomeranz – and Cora 's. has pioneered among his pitching staff like Maradona. attack the defense of England at the 1986 World Cup.
Although Cora said Sale would start match 6 if the series returns to Boston, he added that Sale could be available in relief in the right situation – which probably means they have a chance to finish the match, especially given the limited potential availability of Craig Kimbrel after playing 56 games in the last two games.
If he uses Dirty and weird stuff still happens and the Dodgers survive, Cora still has options for Games 6 and 7. Game 3 starter Rick Porcello could start the sixth game after three days of rest after just 61 shots. This would allow Nathan Eovaldi to start the seventh game if necessary after playing 97 shots in the Friday marathon.
But Cora is focused on winning in the fifth game. With the 18-sleeve game, the pen has been used quite a bit these past two days – that's why Sale is a potential backup option. The field counts for the relievers of Boston of the last two days:
Kimbrel: two appearances, 56 launches
Joe Kelly: Two appearances, 42 lands
Matt Barnes: Two appearances, 34 locations
Heath Hembree: One appearance, 25 locations
Ryan Brasier: One appearance, 18 locations
Pomeranz: No appearances
Heck, even Porcello is an option. With Price and Sale, he even went to Cora before the fourth match and volunteered to start. Saleh had lobbied to enter the third game as a position player while Eduardo Nunez was stuck after a series of falls and falls.
Of course, it is a cliché story at this time of year, but the Red Sox are all in the same boat. Cora held a brief team meeting after the 18 innings and the team responded by giving an ovation to Eovaldi. Price rode with Eovaldi on the team bus to get back to the hotel.
"Every game and every night, someone else shows up," said Kelly after the match 4 win. "This has been our mantra all season."
Indeed, the team scored nine innings late in the game, although Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez managed a combined 0-8. In fact, until Steve Pearce took the advantage over Kenley Jansen in the draw, the # 1 to # 4 strikers had been a combined 0-41 in Los Angeles. Before Pearce's home race, Mitch Moreland broke Ryan Madson's big circuit. Moreland has not dominated since August 22 – 78 years ago.
"We do not count on two guys," Cora repeated after the fourth match. "Brock (Holt) did a good job, Steve, he was amazing, Mitch with a big shot, we kept playing well."
As usual, everything Cora does seems to work. His only questionable decision, this playoff decision, left Eduardo Rodriguez too long Saturday. Cora admitted that he had pushed her too far. Otherwise, each movement becomes gold. Earlier in the same season, I asked Cora what a decision had been made by Boston to place 11 pitches all in sets while the other three teams had 12. He explained, in particular, that Blake Swihart was the third catcher, which allowed them to be pinched for others.
Well, in Game 4, he hit for both seekers. The first time, Jackie Bradley Jr. managed to qualify for the seventh time, but Moreland was still in the game. In the ninth game, tied, Rafael Devers hit for Sandy Leon and gave the green light. Swihart then caught the bottom of the ninth.
From the first launch of each series to the last of Game 7, you can follow the full post-season MLB on ESPN Radio. Listening »
Cora does not intend to brag about it all.
"It's all about players," he said the other day. "They have talent, we have received information, we have placed them in places where we think they will succeed, but in the end they are the ones who hit their homers and play games and in fact they do to look good the managers, that's all. "
The Red Sox made Cora look like a genius: they are 10-3 in October. They need an extra victory. You must think that Betts and Martinez must suffer some damage. Price is now aiming for his third consecutive playoff victory as a starter.
The story points to the Red Sox.
Of course, there is a story on the other side too … and Clayton Kershaw begins, with the season on the line. Enjoy the game
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