Let’s set the stage. The Red Sox, after winning the first two games of the World Series, were riding high heading out west. Then, they lost a devastating Game Three in which they had a chance to win in extras but were destroyed by an error. The Dodgers outlasted them, and after 18 innings they had a massive lift while Boston dealt with a massive letdown. Then, they came out in Game Four and were completely lost at the plate. Rich Hill owned them in every way, shape and form and after Yasiel Puig’s three-run shot this series looked destined for a 2-2 tie.
The Red Sox are relentless
Sunday’s Say Hey, Baseball look at the big Game Four comeback for the Red Sox before looking ahead to Game Five.
Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Except, well, this Red Sox team is relentless and games are not over until they are over. This is a team that thrived against opposing bullpens all year, even as organizations are pouring more and more resources into their relief. They’ve come back so many times this year and were easily the best offense in baseball in the final third of games all season long. That was on full display in Game Four, and they relied on their role players and bullpen -- as they’ve done all postseason -- to come back and end up with a five-run lead heading into the bottom of the night.
It doesn’t seem possible, and as late as 11:00 PM ET Saturday night it looked like the Dodgers had all the momentum in this series. Now, as we wake up on Sunday, the Red Sox have a chance to win the whole thing later on tonight. Granted, the Dodgers are incredibly talented and have the best pitcher in a generation taking the mound in Game Five. This isn’t over until it’s over. That said, the Red Sox don’t have the look of a team that is going to get complacent, and they showed once again in Game Four that they are never to be counted out.
- The Red Sox got Steve Pearce for little-known minor-league Santiago Espinal, and it has turned into one of the best under-the-radar acquisitions of the year.
- The Red Sox had a number of big hits in this comeback, but Steve Pearce’s home run off Kenley Jansen to tie the game was the biggest.
- Before Saturday’s game got started, the Dodgers brought Dennis Eckersley and Kirk Gibson out to throw out the first pitch.
- According to a lot of Red Sox players, one of the biggest moments of Game Four was Chris Sale flipping out in the dugout. Motivation!
- Looking back to Game Three really quickly, one of the things that gets lost in that classic, marathon event was just how incredible Walker Buehler was. Never forget.
- Towards the end of Game Four, Manny Machado appeared to go after Pearce’s heel with his spikes. That’ll only add to the long feud between Machado and the Red Sox.
- After Game Four, the Dodgers had to answer questions about Donald Trump’s criticisms of Dave Roberts, because we live in hell.
- Looking ahead to Game Five, Alex Cora surprised everyone when he announced that David Price, not Chris Sale, will get the start for Boston.
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