BOSTON — J.D. Martinez hit a bases-loaded, two-run single to break a fifth-inning tie as the Boston Red Sox rode yet another two-out rally past the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 4-2 win in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night.
Boston takes a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Friday. As happy as the Dodgers will be to return to the warmth of home, the Red Sox might be equally excited to hit the road, where they are 5-0 this postseason.
Four Boston pitchers, led by starter David Price, limited the Dodgers to three hits.
Trailing 2-1 entering the fifth, the Red Sox made two quick outs before five consecutive batters reached base. No. 9 hitter Christian Vazquez and Mookie Betts each singled, and Andrew Benintendi walked to load the bases and end Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu’s night.
Ryan Madson came in and walked Steve Pearce on five pitches to force in the tying run. Martinez, whom Madson described facing as knowing “you’re in a pit with a rattlesnake” pregame, flared an opposite-field single to right for a two-run lead.
The Red Sox entered the contest with a robust .405 average with two outs and runners in scoring position this postseason. All four of their runs Wednesday night came in such situations.
Boston won its sixth straight game, improving to 9-0 this postseason when scoring first. Mookie Betts had three hits.
Price (1-0) won his second consecutive postseason start after going 0-9 in his first 11. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, striking out five and walking three.
Price cruised through the first three innings, allowing no hits and just two walks, both of which came with two outs. Meanwhile, Boston jumped on top 1-0 on Ian Kinsler’s RBI single in the second.
The lone blip for Price came in the fourth inning, when he loaded the bases with no outs. Matt Kemp hit a sacrifice fly to center to tie the score. Price struck out Enrique Hernandez after a nine-pitch at-bat for the second out before Yasiel Puig hit a single to center for a 2-1 Los Angeles lead.
After Price whiffed Austin Barnes to end the inning, he had a short conversation with home plate umpire Kerwin Danley, who ruled most close pitches on the inside of the plate balls throughout the night.
Price retired the last seven batters he faced, including Brian Dozier on a line-out to left to lead off the fifth, with Benintendi making a leaping grab.
The Dodgers went down in order across their last 16 batters. Joe Kelly struck out two in the seventh, Nathan Eovaldi fanned one in the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel tossed the ninth to earn his sixth save this postseason.
Ryu (0-1) allowed four runs on six hits in his 4 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. — Reuters

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