Red Sox to start Sale in potential closeout game against Dodgers 7h ago 3 min read LOS ANGELES -- After a 24-inning offensive slumber that threatened to reset the World Series and turn it into a best-of-three affair, the Boston Red Sox found life again, putting them one victory from a fourth title since 2004.Struggling to score runs for the second consecutive day, the Red Sox were reborn with nine runs in the final three innings Saturday. Boston can now clinch another title in Game 5 on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale had to like the looks of all that offense. He will be on the mound for Game 5 with the chance to push his team toward a championship.Sale returned from a stomach ailment in Game 1 of the World Series to pitch four innings. The Red Sox ultimately won that game 8-4, although Sale was not involved in the decision.But his biggest mark on the series might have actually come in Game 4 on Saturday. Sale was caught on camera barking stern words of encouragement to teammates right before the team's offense came together."He was fired up," Boston's J. D. Martinez said. "I think everyone was fired up. Everybody has been doing whatever they can do to get everybody going."It was one of those things where you had the late (game Friday) night, everyone is kind of tired, you go down 4-0. It's very easy to hang your head. The whole team I think has been doing a great job of just being positive and picking everybody up." On Saturday, the Red Sox looked every bit like a team that had a marathon game stolen from them one day earlier. Losing 3-2 in 18 innings, as they did in Game 3, has a way of changing the mood.Now the Red Sox can taste what they came for and what has been expected of them since getting off to a red-hot start in April and rolling to a 108-win season.The Dodgers took a completely different path into late October, falling 10 games below .500 at one point and looking utterly lost as late as mid-May. They needed a 163rd game to win the National League West.In essence, they have been playing catch-up for a long time now, and that won't stop now, needing three consecutive victories to overcome the Red Sox."We're all disappointed," said Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who blew leads in each of the last two games, giving up a home run to Jackie Bradley Jr. in Game 3 and one to Steve Pearce in Game 4. "We can't think about what happened. It's the same thing for all managers, coaches and players. We can't question ourselves."It's another day tomorrow. It's not over until it's over. We have another chance (Sunday) and we'll give it our best shot." The Dodgers will have their own staff ace on the mound in Game 5 as Clayton Kershaw will make his second appearance of the 2018 World Series. Like Sale, Kershaw went four innings in Game 1, taking the loss after giving up five runs and seven hits.For the most part, though, starting pitching has not been the Dodgers' problem. The bullpen has been vulnerable.Not only has Jansen had his issues, right-hander Ryan Madson has allowed all seven of his inherited runners to score.After Friday's seven-hour, 20-minute tussle earned the Dodgers' bullpen praise, Saturday's defeat showed how quickly fortunes can change."There are only two teams left in the big leagues right now and both teams are going to fight til the end," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Sometimes in October we talk about mechanics and how you feel at the plate and all that, and sometimes it's will."
Looking for More Picks?
You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.
Boston Red Sox
Los Angeles Dodgers
Pick Center
MLB
FINAL (10/28/2018)
LightningPlays
