Boston Red Sox

Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox: Live updates and analysis from World Series Game 2

Follow along for the latest from Fenway Park.

Andrew Benintendi
Andrew Benintendi makes a leaping catch at the wall. Jim Davis /The Boston Globe

By Nicole Yang

4 minutes to read

The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead with a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

Here’s how it happened.

Ninth inning: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2.

Top: 

Craig Kimbrel entered the game for Eovaldi. He retired the side in order for the save.

Eighth inning: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2.

Bottom: 

Pedro Baez replaced Maeda on the mound. Cody Bellinger made a sliding catch on the warning track in center to deprive J.D. Martinez of his second hit on the night. Xander Bogaerts flied out to Bellinger, and Rafael Devers grounded out to end the inning.

Top: Nathan Eovaldi took over for Kelly. He retired the side in order on 13 pitches.

Seventh inning: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2.

Bottom: 

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Kenta Maeda came in for Urias. After Christian Vazquez grounded out, Mookie Betts hit a towering ball off the Green Monster for a double. Benintendi struck out swinging for the second out of the inning. Maeda was pulled for lefty Scott Alexander. Betts advanced to third on a pitch from Alexander that missed outside, but Mitch Moreland, pinch-hitting for Steve Pearce, struck out to end the inning.

Top: Joe Kelly entered the game for Price. He struck out two and retired the side in order.

Sixth inning: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2.

Bottom: 

Lefty Julio Urias replaced Madson on the mound. He retired the side in order.

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Top: Price retired the side in order.

Fifth inning: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2.

Bottom: 

Christian Vazquez singled on a two-out base hit to right. Mookie Betts followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and second. Ryu walked Andrew Benintendi on eight pitches to load the bases with two outs. Manager Dave Roberts replaced Ryu with righty Ryan Madson, who walked Steve Pearce to bring home Vazquez. A base hit from J.D. Martinez dropped in front of Puig to give the Red Sox a 4-2 lead. Xander Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning.

Top: Benintendi robbed Dozier of a base hit with a running, leaping grab in front of the Green Monster. Justin Turner grounded out on a soft-hit, bouncing ball, and David Freese popped out to center to end the inning.

Fourth inning: Dodgers 2, Red Sox 1.

Bottom: 

J.D. Martinez grounded out, Xander Bogaerts struck out looking, and Rafael Devers struck out swinging to end the inning.

Top: David Freese reached first after Mookie Betts couldn’t come up with the catch on a line drive to right. On Price’s next pitch, Manny Machado lined a base hit to center field to put runners on first and second. Price then walked Chris Taylor on six pitches to load the bases. Matt Kemp hit an RBI sac fly to center, as Freese tagged to tie the score at 1-1. Enrique Hernandez capped a nine-pitch at-bat with a strikeout for the second out of the inning. Joe Kelly started warming in the Red Sox bullpen. Yasiel Puig then launched a hard-hit blooper over a leaping Kinsler to drive in Machado and put runners on the corners. Austin Barnes struck out swinging to end the inning. Price’s pitch count: 67.

Third inning: Red Sox 1, Dodgers 0.

Bottom: 

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Hyun-Jin Ryu struck out Christian Vazquez to open the inning. Betts then singled to left-center field. Benintendi lined out and Pearce popped out to strand Betts and end the inning.

Top: Kinsler nabbed a floater by Yasiel Puig for the first out, and Austin Barnes popped out to right field for the second out. Price then walked Dozier, before Justin Turner grounded out to end the inning. Price’s pitch count: 43.

Second inning: Red Sox 1, Dodgers 0.

Bottom:

After J.D. Martinez lined out to center field, Xander Bogaerts doubled off the Green Monster for Boston’s first base-runner of the night. Rafael Devers then struck out swinging for the second out. Ian Kinsler lined a base hit to left to drive in Bogaerts, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with a base hit up the middle, but Chris Taylor threw Kinsler out at third to end the inning.

Top: After Price struck out Chris Taylor (swinging on three pitches) and Matt Kemp (looking on four pitches), Enrique Hernandez popped out to center to end the inning. Price’s pitch count: 26.

First inning: Red Sox 0, Dodgers 0.

Bottom: 

Mookie Betts grounded out, Andrew Benintendi struck out swinging, and Steve Pearce popped out for a 1-2-3 inning.

Top: After lead-off hitter Brian Dozier grounded out and Justin Turner struck out looking, David Price walked David Freese on six pitches. Manny Machado popped out to end the inning. Price’s pitch count: 13.

Pre-game

  • A group of Red Sox fan favorites will be throwing out the first pitches: Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Kevin Millar, Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek, Keith Foulke, and Alan Embree — all members of the 2004 World Series championship team — will be on hand for the ceremonial duties.
  • Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt is not a fan of how close the fans are to the visitors’ bullpen: “Brutal. Pretty brutal,” he told Sports Illustrated‘s Tom Verducci. “What I don’t understand is why baseball allows it. You’ve got the rubber right there and people literally standing over you.”
  • How important was Boston’s Game 1 victory? Winners of Game 1 go on to win the World Series 62 percent of the time. Teams that have won both Games 1 and 2 go on to take home the title 80 percent of the time.