Boston Red Sox players and supporters celebrated the Major League Baseball team's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series with a victory parade Wednesday along city streets.
A day-long celebration of the Red Sox's fourth championship in the past 15 seasons -- after having not won the crown since 1918 until the recent run -- began with a rally inside Fenway Park, the oldest major league stadium built in 1912.
Players rode on duck boats, Boston's famed vehicles that serve as cars or boats, and displayed the championship trophy as they rode down the city streets, fans cheering and singing with delight.
"It's a dream come true for me and I'm so thankful to be here right now," said Boston's Steve Pearce, the World Series Most Valuable Player. "It still feels so weird to hear that, World Series MVP."
Pearce recalled pitcher Chris Sale and manager Alex Cora gathering the team together when they faced adversity to help revive their momentum on the path to the crown, beating the Dodgers four games to one in the best-of-seven World Series despite losing the longest game in Series history after 18 innings.
"When our backs were against the wall, we banded together and we got it done," Pearce said. "We figured it out and everything suddenly got going for us. Everybody responded.
"It was what we needed. We came out the next day and responded. That's what it was all about."
Signs in the crowd along the streets and in the ballpark included "LA: Lost Again" and "Alexa, Play New York, New York," the theme song of the arch-rival Yankees, whom the Red Sox vanquished in their first playoff series despite a home loss in game two of the best-of-five matchup.
"We lost game two to the Yankees. Everybody here was so scared," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Then we scored 16 at Yankee Stadium. Suck on it."
Price staying in Boston
The Red Sox received good news for next year's title defense as they seek back-to-back crowns for the first time since 1915 and 1916 as pitcher David Price said he will remain with the club for the final four seasons of his contract, refusing an opt-out clause he had through Wednesday in his seven-year, $217 million deal.
"Yeah, I'm opting in. I'm not going anywhere," Price said. "I want to win here. We did that this year, and I want to do it again. There wasn't any reconsideration on my part ever. I came here to win. We did that this year and that was very special. Now we want to do it again."
Price went winless in his first 11 career playoff starts, then pitched the Red Sox to victory in the clinching game over Houston in the American League Championship Series and starred in games two and five of the World Series.
"He should have been the co-MVP of the World Series," Red Sox owner John Henry said. "I can't imagine we would have wound up winning without David Price this year."
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LOS ANGELES -- Steve Pearce slammed a pair of home runs and David Price tossed a seven-inning gem to power the Boston Red Sox to a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fourth World Series title in 15 years on Sunday.
The Red Sox, after winning a franchise-record and Major League Baseball-best 108 games during the regular season, carried their domination all the way to the World Series and overwhelmed the Dodgers, 4-1, in the best-of-seven series.
The Red Sox clinched their ninth World Series title with a lethal combination of power and pitching.
Game 5 starter Price surrendered one run on three hits in seven plus innings to collect his third straight postseason win, while all the Red Sox runs were scored via home runs.
Pearce, who was named the World Series most valuable player, gave Boston a 2-0 lead they would never relinquish with a two-run blast in the first and added a solo shot in the eighth. Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez hit solo home runs.
Price said winning the World Series was the whole reason he came to Boston.
"Seeing all these grown men over there just acting like little kids, that's what it's all about," he added. "To come out on top the way we did is unreal.
"This is why I came to Boston. I know it is a tough place to play and challenging with everything that was going to go on there.
"I've been through a lot the three years I've been there but this is why I came."
The Dodgers and their fans arrived at Chavez Ravine on Sunday knowing only 13 teams had clawed their way back from 3-1 deficits to win a best-of-seven postseason series.
The last to do it was the Chicago Cubs against the Cleveland Indians in 2016 as they claimed their first World Series crown in 108 years.
Backed into a corner and with their bullpen worn out, the Dodgers turned to three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, while the Red Sox countered with their Cy Young winner Price.
The chances of a Fall Classic pitchers duel seemed unlikely when both starters were clobbered for first-inning home runs.
After Andrew Binitendi singled, Pearce took the first pitch he saw from Kershaw and launched into the centre field bleachers for a 2-0 lead.
"Baseball is a funny game, great things can happen and I am very blessed to be here right now," said Pearce, who has played for every team in the American League East. "That's what our team is about we show up every single day.
"We knew we were going to be here the whole time and it is just a great feeling."
The Dodgers, who were beaten by the Houston Astros in last season's World Series, hit back right away when David Freese crushed a leadoff homer to get Los Angeles on the scoreboard.
The first-inning fireworks gave way to the pitching battle many had predicted with Price and Kershaw settling down and tossing four shutout innings.
Boston seized control in the sixth when Betts, in an 0-13 slump at the plate, smashed a solo shot while Martinez connected for a leadoff homer in the seventh.
Kershaw, who has never lived up to his Cy Young credentials in the postseason, endured another rough outing and gave up four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LOS ANGELES -- Steve Pearce completed a remarkable journey from a Major League Baseball castoff to the top of the baseball world on Sunday as the Boston Red Sox first baseman was named the Most Valuable Player of the World Series.
The 35-year-old veteran slugger, who the Toronto Blue Jays shipped to Boston for next to nothing in June, had three home runs and eight RBI during the best-of-seven championship, which the Red Sox won, 4-1, over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"You know, baseball is a funny game. You never know where the game will take you," Pearce told reporters. "And I've gone through a lot in my life or in my career to be here, and I couldn't be more thankful."
Pearce has played for seven teams during a his 12-year MLB career and his trade to the American League East's Red Sox made him only the sixth player to play for each team in one division.
And while Pearce is known around MLB circles as a journeyman, he has never been dismayed by the unflattering identifier and simply saved the best baseball of his career for the game's biggest stage.
Pearce hit a game-tying homer in the eighth inning of Saturday's Game 4 followed by a three-run double in the ninth to help the Red Sox emphatically rally to a victory that left them one win away from their fourth title in 15 years.
The hard-hitting first baseman returned on Sunday and hit a two-run home run in the first inning to put the visitors ahead, 2-0, and then launched a solo shot in the eighth inning that gave Boston a 5-1 lead for the final score.
"This has been a lifelong journey. And to be here right now is a dream come true," said Pearce.
"Best feeling in my life. This is what you grow up wishing that you could be a part of something like this. With that special group of guys out there, to celebrate with them, that was awesome."
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LOS ANGELES - The Boston Red Sox overcame a late four run deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6 in Game Four of the World Series on Saturday and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Red Sox scored five runs in the top of the ninth behind RBI hits by Rafael Devers, Steve Pearce and Xander Bogaerts to complete the comeback and put themselves one win away from their fourth World Series title since 2004.
The Dodgers appeared to have the game in hand when Yasiel Puig smashed a three-run home run in the sixth inning to give the home team a 4-0 lead.
But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled starting pitcher Rich Hill in the seventh inning and struggling reliever Ryan Madson gave up a three-run home run to pinch hitter Mitch Moreland later in the inning to cut the Dodgers lead.
Roberts brought Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in to try and pitch out the final two innings but the move backfired when Steve Pearce hit a solo home run to tie the game at 4-4.
The floodgates opened for Boston in the top of the ninth with the biggest hit coming from first baseman Pearce, who hit a bases-loaded double to drive in Devers, Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi in the five-run ninth.
Kiki Hernandez cut the lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of half of innings but it was not enough for the Dodgers, who are trying to win their first title in 30 years.
Game Five will be played at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
source: news.abs-cbn.com
