The Boston Red Sox lost their first game of the regular season. After that, nearly everything went their way.

They were the best team in baseball throughout the regular season and they completed a thrilling run through the postseason to capture the franchise’s ninth World Series title when they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1, in a decisive Game 5 on Sunday.

A matchup of dominant left-handed starters — both of whom had often struggled in the postseason — looked like it would be decided by the bullpens when both teams put runs on the scoreboard in the first inning. But both David Price and Clayton Kershaw showed some of their best stuff when the lights were at their brightest, settling down into a pitchers’ duel at Dodger Stadium.

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Price, who had never won a postseason game as a starter coming into this season, was simply better.</s>The Boston Red Sox captured their fourth World Series title in 15 years Sunday night, as they won the 2018 World Series 4-1 over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In the hours since Chris Sale recorded the final out, the Red Sox haven't stopped celebrating, and even though Boston fans are used to welcoming championship teams in all sports back home, the next few days will be full of celebrations for one of the best teams in Major League Baseball history.

The 119 wins totaled by the Red Sox were the third-most in MLB history, and Red Sox legend Fred Lynn was quick to point out how proud he was of the team for earning that achievement:

A variety of athletes took to Twitter to express their pleasure with the Red Sox coming out on top, including Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Al Horford of the Boston Celtics:

Game 5 was highlighted by a two home run performance out of Most Valuable Player Steve Pearce. The first baseman hit his home runs in the first and eighth innings, while Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez added solo shots of their own.

Pearce, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in June, became the third player 35 or older to hit a pair of home runs in a World Series game, per MLB Stat of the Day:

After he won the MVP, praise came flowing down from a wide range of baseball fans on Twitter for the experienced infielder.

Andrew McCutchen, who was one of Pearce's teammates in Pittsburgh, was one of the first to show the MVP love on Twitter:

Pearce also played for the Baltimore Orioles, and Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer congratulated him on his World Series performance on behalf of the Baltimore organization:

Pearce's MVP honors came 10 yards after a basketball player with a similar last name won the award in the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics, as MLB's official Twitter account pointed out:

The 35-year-old wasn't the only Red Sox player who enjoyed success throughout the World Series, as Fancred's Jon Heyman tweeted out some notable winners and losers:

Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado came under plenty of criticism for his play and lack of effort during the five games of the World Series.

Machado, who is a free agent, didn't want to comment on where he'll play the 2019 season and beyond, per Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times:

Although the Dodgers' season once again ended in a disappointing World Series loss, Magic Johnson, who is one of the owners of the ball club, expressed his support in the franchise:</s>LOS ANGELES — The Boston Red Sox won their fourth World Series championship in 15 years, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 5 Sunday night behind David Price’s pitching and Steve Pearce’s power.

Alex Cora became the first manager from Puerto Rico to guide a team to the title. He’s just the fifth rookie skipper to do it overall.

After posting a team-record 108 wins during the regular season and romping through the AL playoffs, the Red Sox finished off a one-sided Series.

Price threw three-hit ball into the eighth inning. Pearce hit two home runs, a night after his homer and three-run double spurred a late rally.

Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez also connected as the Red Sox hit three homers off Clayton Kershaw.

Los Angeles lost Game 7 of the World Series last year to Houston, also at Dodger Stadium by the same 5-1 score.</s>LOS ANGELES - The Boston Red Sox won their fourth World Series championship in 15 years, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 5 Sunday night behind David Price's pitching and first baseman Steve Pearce's power. Alex Cora became the first manager from Puerto Rico to guide a team to the title. He's just the fifth rookie skipper to do it overall.</s>LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - 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.

“This team has a lot of fight,” first baseman Pearce, whose bases loaded double in the ninth put the game out of reach, said after the game.

Saturday’s game was played the day after the Dodgers won an 18 inning, seven hour and 20 minute contest in Friday’s Game Three that taxed both sides.

Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt said his team’s ability to bounce back from that loss showed his club’s resiliency.

“Last night, what a baseball game. To lose that one, that one hurt,” he said. “To come out and start out slow but finish like we did it just shows what this team is capable of.”

The Dodgers appeared to have Saturday’s win 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 despite the starter only giving up one hit and dominating Boston’s potent lineup on a chilly Southern California evening.

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 to one.

Roberts then brought 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 final frame with the biggest hit coming from Pearce, whose bases clearing double drove 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 inning but it was not enough for the Dodgers, who are trying to win their first title in 30 years.

Roberts defended his controversial decision to pull Hill, telling reporters after the game that the lefty told him he was tiring.

“He said, ‘Keep an eye on me. I’m going to give it everything I have. Let’s go hitter to hitter and just keep an eye on me,’” Roberts said.

“So right there, I know Rich did everything he could, competed, left everything out there.”

The loss is the Dodgers’ first of the season when they had a four run lead. They had been 54-0 in those games before Saturday.

Game Five will be played at Dodger Stadium on Sunday and will feature a clash of left-handed aces with David Price taking the mound for the Red Sox and Clayton Kershaw getting the call for the Dodgers.

The team leading 3-1 has won the World Series 85 percent of the time.</s>LOS ANGELES, Oct 28 (Reuters) - 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 Five 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. (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Peter Rutherford)</s>Boston Red Sox’s Brock Holt, center, celebrates after scoring on a single RBI by Rafael Devers during the ninth inning in Game 4 of the World Series baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

LOS ANGELES — Working on a one-hitter with a 4-0 lead, Rich Hill had just sent Eduardo Nunez down swinging for the first out of the seventh inning.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had seen enough. Walking to the mound, he signalled to the bullpen and Hill was gone.

On came Scott Alexander and the beginning of another troubled outing for Los Angeles’ bullpen in the World Series.

The relievers combined to give up eight of Boston’s nine runs over the final three innings in a 9-6 loss Saturday that sent the Dodgers to the brink of elimination for the second straight year.

“Watching the Dodgers/Red Sox final innings,” he tweeted. “It is amazing how a manager takes out a pitcher who is loose & dominating through almost 7 innings, Rich Hill of Dodgers, and brings in nervous reliever(s) who get shellacked. 4 run lead gone. Managers do it all the time, big mistake!”

Los Angeles trails 3-1 in the best-of-seven Series. Game 5 is Sunday at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers lost to Houston in Game 7 a year ago.

Alexander inherited a runner from Hill, who had issued a leadoff walk to Xander Bogaerts. Alexander walked Brock Holt and Roberts was quick with the hook.

The Dodgers turned to Ryan Madson, brought in from the Nationals in August to bolster the ‘pen in high-leverage situations.

Madson gave up a three-run homer to pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland, drawing the Red Sox to 4-3.

The Dodgers turned to Kenley Jansen in the eighth for the second straight game.

RELATED: In longest World Series game ever, Dodgers outlast Red Sox in 18

The All-Star closer served up a one-out homer to Steve Pearce that tied the game at 4-all.

Hours earlier, Jansen gave up Jackie Bradley Jr.’s tying homer in the eighth inning of an epic Game 3, blowing his attempt at a six-out save in his third major World Series failure in two years.

But the bullpen rallied, with eight relievers combining for 11 innings of five-hit ball in the longest World Series game in history. They mostly shut down Boston’s powerful lineup and the Dodgers eked out a 3-2 victory in 18 innings of the 7 hour, 20 minute affair. Converted reliever Alex Wood got the win by pitching out of trouble in the 18th after giving up a leadoff walk.

Jansen struggled against Houston a year ago in the World Series, too.

He gave up a solo homer to Marwin Gonzalez in Game 2 for his first blown save in the post-season. It snapped his major-league record of converting his first 12 post-season save chances.

In Game 5, he took the loss in a 10-inning defeat.</s>LOS ANGELES (USA TODAY Sports) -- One day after the longest postseason game in Major League Baseball history, the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers offenses needed five and a half innings to wake up on Saturday. Once they did, the Red Sox fought back from a four-run deficit and rallied for four ninth-inning runs to take an 9-6 win and a 3-1 advantage in the series.

Both Dodgers starter Rich Hill and the Red Sox’s Eduardo Rodriguez opened with five shutout innings. Hill added a scoreless sixth, but Rodriguez finally faltered in the bottom half of the frame.

With help from a throwing error by Boston catcher Christian Vazquez and a long three-run homer by Yasiel Puig, the Dodgers opened up a four-run lead in the sixth. But Boston battled back, chasing Hill with one out in the seventh and drawing the game close on a three-run blast off the bat of Mitch Moreland. A solo homer by Steve Pearce off Kenley Jansen tied the game in the eighth.

Facing Dylan Floro in the ninth, Brock Holt hit a one-out squib double to the opposite field and scored on a Rafael Devers single up the middle to give the Red Sox a lead. Steve Pearce's bases-loaded double later in the inning put the game away for Boston.

Though Devers’ ninth-inning hit would drive in the game’s winning run, it was Moreland’s monster homer in the seventh that seemed to swing the momentum in the game. Pinch-hitting against righty Ryan Madson, Moreland got a first-pitch changeup up in the zone and clobbered it 437 feet into the right-field grandstand.

Rodriguez’s final pitching line isn’t terribly pretty: The 25-year-old allowed four earned runs in 5 ⅔ innings and left with the Dodgers leading. But considering the circumstances, his was a gutsy performance. Though he only threw six pitches on Friday, Rodriguez was working on zero days’ rest Saturday for a club that desperately needed him to provide a starter’s workload. He did that, and pitched well enough to keep the game close for a Boston comeback.

Both clubs will turn to their aces for Sunday’s Game 5. Chris Sale will take the ball for the Red Sox as they look to avoid getting swept in the Los Angeles leg of the World Series. Sale last pitched in Game 1, when he allowed three earned runs in four innings pitched with seven strikeouts. The 29-year-old lefty, who spent a night in the hospital with a stomach ailment during the ALCS, has a 4.40 ERA in 14 ⅓ innings this month.

Clayton Kershaw will start Game 5 for the Dodgers. Though Kershaw has had two stellar outings this October -- one in the NLDS, one in the NLCS -- he allowed five runs in four innings in Game 1 of the World Series, reinvigorating discussion of his history of postseason struggles. He sports a 3.91 ERA across 23 playoff innings this year.</s>LOS ANGELES — A year ago, the Dodgers trudged off into the winter with no regrets, at least none that they would admit.

They were just as good as the Houston Astros, they believed, just as worthy of a championship. It had eluded them but they would return to claim what they felt they deserved.

It’s going to be hard to convince themselves of that this time.

The World Series mulligan they craved lasted just five games. The Boston Red Sox dismissed them in Game 5 on Sunday, hitting four home runs (two by Series MVP Steve Pearce) in a 5-1 victory to claim their fourth World Series title in the past 15 years.

For the second year in a row, baseball’s champion was crowned at Dodger Stadium and it wasn’t the home team, an indignity no team had experienced since the 1936-37 New York Giants.

“We did too many bad things in the playoffs and that’s why the Red Sox are the World Series champs for 2018 and we’re losing again, back-to-back Series,” Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig said. “Everybody in this clubhouse feels bad. Everybody feels sad. But we didn’t do the things to win a championship.”

It took the longest game in the history of the World Series for the Dodgers to even get one victory in this Series. Their wait for a title will go into a 31st year and another blue October will be remembered for the slumped shoulders of Clayton Kershaw.

Whatever demons have denied Los Angeles for three decades now have saved their most pointed torment for Kershaw.

“Disappointed. Yeah, just disappointed, I think,” Kershaw said when asked his emotions after coming up short in October again. “There’s only one team that can win and we know that. But it just hurts worse when you make it all the way and get second place. So having done that two years in a row now – it doesn’t make it any easier.”

No longer the Superman who had tried to will the Dodgers to a championship in the past, this Kershaw with the diminished velocity gave up three home runs Sunday – a two-run shot to Pearce in the first inning, putting the Dodgers down to stay, and solo homers to Mookie Betts (ending an 0-for-13 slide) and J.D. Martinez.

“I thought honestly Kersh was throwing a good game,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “Solo homers got us in the end. He kept us tight, 2-1, for most of the game. Then a couple mistakes to a really good team over there. They have a good lineup. They make you pay. I thought we were doing a pretty good job, for the most part. They just kind of outslugged us.”

Pitching in a postseason game that could end the Dodgers’ season for the 10th time (thesixth start), Kershaw now has a 5.40 ERA in those games. Six of the 10 were season-ending losses for the Dodgers and Kershaw has given up eight home runs in those potential elimination games, more than any other pitcher in history.

In his six starts in those elimination games, Kershaw has a 6.06 ERA. According to Baseball-Reference.com, only 24 pitchers in baseball history have started four or more elimination games for their team. None have an ERA as high as Kershaw in those must-win situations.

“He doesn’t quit, man. He’s one of the best,” said Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, Kershaw’s teammate in six painful Octobers now. “People need to be grateful to see a pitcher like that in their generation. We might not see another one in a while. He might go down as one of the best lefties to ever play this game.

“Yes, we struggle. You can say whatever. You can say we struggle in the postseason or whatever. Still, I’m proud of Kersh. I’m proud of how he competes. He never gives up. He goes out there and competes and tries to lift his team. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way and you fall short. But that’s what gets us better. I know that Kersh is going to keep motivating himself and try to get back here on this stage next year. That’s what we’re going to do now.”

Whether Kershaw makes that effort in a Dodgers’ uniform remains the first off-season question the team needs to answer. After Sunday’s loss, Kershaw again said he has not made a decision on his opt-out clause, saying he has three days to decide whether to use it – correcting himself from earlier this month when he thought it was a 10-day window after the end of the World Series.

“I’ve got three days now to think about all of that stuff before anything happens,” Kershaw said. “So it will be an eventful three days for me and I’ll try to figure it out.”

The postseason redemption Kershaw must crave belongs to Red Sox left-hander David Price this fall. Pitching on short rest, Price held the Dodgers to three hits over seven innings in Game 5, claiming his second victory in the Series. Two of the hits in Game 5 came from David Freese, placed in the leadoff spot because the Dodgers didn’t know how long the left-handed Price would go before being replaced by a right-handed reliever.

Freese did his part. He homered off Price in the first inning and legged out a triple in the third when right fielder J.D. Martinez lost his deep fly ball in the dusky sky.

But the Dodgers stranded Freese at third after that gift, their only at-bats with runners in scoring position in Game 5. That was just as well. They hit .200 (4 for 20) with RISP in this series and a dreadful .192 (20 for 104) in the postseason – a number remarkable for not having sunk their chances earlier.

For all the criticism of Dave Roberts’ pitching decisions – they weren’t good – it was a lack of offense that did sink the Dodgers ultimately.

They hit a weak .180 (34 for 189) in the World Series and were outscored 28-16 by the team that led baseball in runs scored this season. When it came time to adjust against a steady diet of good pitching, the National League’s home run leaders failed to do it adequately and slugged only occasionally.

With Price pitching on short rest in Game 5, the Dodgers’ goal was to drive up his pitch count and get him out of the game or capitalize on his fatigue. That never materialized. They went down on fewer than 10 pitches four times in the first seven innings against Price, keeping his pitch count low enough for him to pitch into the eighth inning and hand the ball where he handed the ball to Joe Kelly.

The Dodgers didn’t even put a ball in play over the final two innings. Kelly struck out three Dodgers in a row in the eighth. Chris Sale did the same in the ninth. Freese’s gifted triple was the Dodgers’ last hit until next spring.

“I expect us to be back here next year – but celebrating on the field,” Roberts said.</s>HOUSTON (AP) — What a birthday present for rookie manager Alex Cora. He’s taking the Boston Red Sox back to the World Series.

David Price put his postseason woes behind him, pitching the Red Sox past the defending champion Houston Astros 4-1 Thursday night in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.

Next stop for the 108-win Red Sox is Fenway Park for the World Series opener Tuesday night against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers.

But before leaving Minute Maid Park, the Red Sox surrounded the 43-year-old Cora in the clubhouse and heartily sang “happy birthday!” Wearing goggles and championship gear, the team saluted the first manager from Puerto Rico to lead a team to the World Series.

Cora was hired a year ago as he prepared to go to the Series as Houston’s bench coach. He got the job a month after Hurricane Maria devastated his island homeland, and immediately went to work helping with relief efforts.

“I know right know for everything that we’re going through as a nation, as a country, for me to stand up here with this trophy, I know there’s a lot of people proud of me in Puerto Rico,” he said.

Rafael Devers hit a three-run homer as the Red Sox stunned Justin Verlander to win the best-of-seven set 4-1.

ALCS MVP Jackie Bradley Jr. , outfielder Mookie Betts and the Red Sox will try to bring Boston its fourth crown in 15 years — this is their first trip since winning it all in 2013.

Los Angeles has a 3-2 lead in the NLCS going into Game 6 on Friday night at Miller Park.

“We got four more wins. That was very, very special, absolutely. But we want more,” Price said.

Pitching on only three days’ rest after Boston ace Chris Sale was ruled out while recovering from a stomach illness, Price struck out nine in six shutout innings of three-hit ball . The left-hander, who has had a rough time in Boston since signing a $217 million contract before the 2016 season, entered 0-9 with a 6.16 ERA in 11 career postseason starts.

Price was thrilled that he won’t be questioned anymore about not having a postseason win as a starter.

“That’s awesome,” he said. “I don’t have to prepare myself for it in spring training on Feb. 20 or September when I’ve still got five regular-season starts. I don’t have to answer that question anymore. And man, it feels good.”

Price was warming in the bullpen as Game 4 ended, perhaps jeopardizing his readiness for Thursday. Instead, that session may have keyed his dominant performance.

“It felt good. Honestly, it really started last night in the bullpen. Threw quite a few pitches to come in for the next hitter, found something out while doing that and kind of just carried that over to today,” Price said.

Price tipped his cap to a few hundred Red Sox fans assembled behind the Boston dugout while they cheered as he walked off the field following postgame interviews.

The only time thing that didn’t go smoothly for Price came when he brought 1-year-old son Xavier into the postgame news conference and the little one wouldn’t quit shrieking and wriggling away from him .

Price pulled him back onto his lap, repeating the words: “This is big, dude. This is big.”

After dropping the opener at home, Boston took four straight — including three in a row in Houston to improve to 5-0 on the road in these playoffs.

The Red Sox are the first team to win four straight postseason games against a 100-win club since the 2004 Red Sox against both the Yankees and Cardinals, STATS said.

“Since Day One, we knew we had something special. We just needed to stay healthy and go out and execute,” Bradley said.

Left fielder Andrew Benintendi caught a long fly for the last out — not nearly as dramatic as his game-saving diving grab the previous night. Just the same, it capped off a win.

“The last out yesterday was like around 12:10. So we won two on my birthday. I’ll take it. I’ll take it,” Cora said.

There was a smattering of boos from the home crowd as the Red Sox charged onto the field, embracing as they jumped around near the middle of the diamond. They posed for a team picture on the mound a couple of minutes later as members of Houston’s pitching staff slowly walked by, glancing at the revelry on their way back from the bullpen.

“They beat us. We ran out of wins,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said .

Despite leading the majors in wins during the regular season, the Red Sox were underdogs against a Houston team that defeated the Dodgers in last year’s World Series and romped past Cleveland in the Division Series this month.

But stars Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and the Astros hobbled to the finish in a humbling defeat. Still, no team has repeated as World Series champs since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000.

Altuve, last year’s AL MVP, didn’t want to make excuses but said this was “absolutely” the worst pain he’s ever played with.

“I feel really, really bad for not being on the field for my team, but one thing you can know is that I gave everything I had, healthy, not healthy that was all I have,” he said still wearing his uniform long after the game had ended.

Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez hit an early homer off Verlander , and Price made the lead stand up into the late innings. Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his third save of the series.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is taking his third organization to the World Series. He won two championships as general manager of the Florida Marlins, then oversaw two pennants as GM of the Detroit Tigers. Dombrowski was hired by Boston in 2015.

It was the 14th pennant for the Red Sox, who are 8-4 in World Series appearances. They took the American League flag in 1904, but the World Series wasn’t played that year.

Verlander had pitched 24 scoreless innings over his previous three starts with his team facing postseason elimination, and he came in 4-1 with a 1.21 ERA in five potential elimination games during his career.

Houston’s only run came on a homer by Marwin Gonzalez in the seventh off Matt Barnes .

Devers connected in the sixth for a 4-0 lead.

Devers, who turns 22 on Wednesday, has 12 RBIs in 10 postseason games. He joined Mickey Mantle, Andruw Jones and Miguel Cabrera as the only players in major league history to have nine or more RBIs in the postseason at age 21 or younger.

Sale, who spent Sunday night in a hospital because of a stomach illness, has recovered and is set to start Game 1 of the World Series. Cora said Sale threw off flat ground on Thursday and was feeling better after he was unable to start on Wednesday because of the issue.

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In baseball's World Series, the Boston Red Sox defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth game, winning the series four games to one and claiming the team's ninth World Series title. Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce is named the Series' Most Valuable Player.