J-Speaks: Another World Series For Red Sox

They Boston Red Sox were not only the best team in the American League during the 2018 regular season but the best in all of Major League Baseball with 108 wins. They took that same dominance into the postseason knocking off the rival New York Yankees in American League Divisional Series 3-1 and the Houston Astros in the American Championship Series 4-1. In fitting fashion, “The Sox” would cap their epic season with a solid performance in Hollywood that was a complete team effort.

The American League East champion Red Sox (108-54) won their fourth World Series crown since 2004 with a 5-1 win at the Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71), who were taken down in the World Series for the second straight October in their own house.

The Red Sox finished their great season behind World Series MVP Steve Pearce, who the American League champs acquired from the Division rival Toronto Blue Jays in June had three home runs in a shade under than 24 hours. His third shot into bleachers of Dodgers’ Stadium, a two-run homer off the home team’s ace Clayton Kershaw’s sixth pitch.

The life-long Red Sox fan, who had seven runs batted in the final 11 innings of the series said to ABC News’ Kayna Whitworth after the win, “This has been the funnest year of my life.”

His father echoed those same thoughts to Whitworth that it was not only special to see his son in a Red Sox uniform in the World Series but to watch him win series MVP was a dream come true.

The Red Sox put some distance between themselves and the Dodgers in the seventh inning thanks to a solo homer by JD Martinez.

“Everybody wants to step up. Everybody wants to be, you know the guy and stuff like that. I feel like when you get to this point you don’t even care who hits the home run. Who gets the hit,” the Red Sox outfielder said after the game to ABC News’ Kayna Whitworth. “As long as someone does it and your able to just get the win.”

Red Sox pitcher David Price who has had his struggles in his postseason career had complete control on the mound pitching a seven-inning gem as he retired 14 Dodger hitters, five of which by strikeouts.

The 33-year-old Price, a Cy Young Award recipient in 2012 has had a lot of success during the regular season in his 10-year career, only to flame out during the postseason with a 0-9 mark before defeating Houston Astros top pitcher Justin Verlander in the Game 5 clincher of the ALCS.

Price’s victory on Sunday was his third straight in as many starts and he became the first pitcher to beat a Cy Young winner in the last game of a League Championship Series and the World Series in the same season. Not bad for a guy who at one time wanted to quit baseball when he was at Vanderbilt.

“I don’t think about that day really ever,” Price who won his second game in the series said to Whitworth after the win. “It was a lapse in judgment on my part and my family and coach [Tim] Corbin, and my inner circle really rallied around me at that time.”

Perhaps the most grateful Red Sox on this night was lead off hitter and centerfielder Mookie Betts, who also hit a solo homer in the seventh inning gave the visitors some breathing room. Those heroics in Game 5 by Betts were equaled by what he did off the field during this World Series.

After the Red Sox 4-2 win versus the Dodgers in Game 2 last Wednesday that put them up 2-0 Betts along with another man were spotted by a VIP host for night clubs in the Boston, MA area saw handing out trays of food to homeless people outside Boston Public Library.

The act of kindness was done with no fanfare-no media cameras and once Betts accomplished his good deed he walked off into the night once people began leaving the nearby nightspot.

“Me and my family take pride in with the blessings that we have and giving and blessing other people,” Betts said to Whitworth.

That same feeling of gratitude is what Red Sox fans felt as they packed Kenmore Square was packed with individuals singing the famed song played during the 8^th inning at Fenway Park “Sweet Caroline,” the 1969 hit by Neil Diamond.

On Sunday night, the Boston Red Sox won their ninth title in franchise history, their fourth in 15 years. Those nine titles tie the Oakland Athletics for third-most in MLB history. The St. Louis Cardinals are second with 11 championships and the hated rivals of the Red Sox the New York Yankees are first all-time with 27.

Behind a 7-1 mark on the road and a 10-0 mark in the postseason when scoring first, the Boston Red Sox won their ninth title overall, with four coming in the last 15 seasons, tying the Oakland Athletics for third most in MLB history trailing the St. Louis Cardinals (11) and the hated rival New York Yankees (27).

It was a complete team effort led by standout performances by newcomer Steve Pearce, JD Martinez, David Price and Mookie Betts. They all played a role and never took the shine away from their teammate during their moments in the sun. That act of selflessness is why the Red Sox are champions again and will celebrate with their fans in a championship parade on Halloween morning on Wednesday at 11 a.m. 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 10/8/17 www.boston.com story, “How ‘Sweet Caroline’ Became Fenway’s Beloved (and Detested) Ballpark Anthem,” by Kevin Slane; 10/26/18 https://boston.cbslocal.com story, “Mookie Betts Quietly Delivered Food to Homeless After Game 2 World Series Win,” by Paul Burton; 10/29/18 7 a.m. edition of ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” with Robin Roberts, Ginger Zee, George Stephanopoulos, Cecilia Vega, and Adrienne Bankert, with report from Kayna Whitworth; 10/30/18 www.sbnation.com story, “Red Sox Parade 2018: Date, Time, Route, and Other Details About the World Series Celebration;” www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameid=381028119; https://vucommodores.com/coaches.aspx?rc=14; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Price_(baseball); and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_World_Series.