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Saturday 20 OctOber 2018

Red Sox sail into World Series, set for ace Sale’s return

HOUSTON (AP) — David the numbers are there, I
Price, at last, looked like a know, but he was saying
postseason ace. Craig Kim- this — he didn’t hesitate. It
brel pitched a lockdown in- was a bad matchup, one
ning. And much-maligned of the greatest against the
Jackie Bradley Jr. became worst and all that.”
an MVP. “I don’t listen too much to
Most everything went right what’s going on outside,
for the Red Sox as they but that one got me,” he
sailed into the World Se- added. “But you know
ries. Now the big question what? I’m happy that Da-
for Boston: Is everything all vid showed up today. And
right with ace Chris Sale? tomorrow we can turn the
“We’re not perfect. That’s page and move on to the
the cool thing about this World Series with David
team. We feel that we can Price.” Kimbrel, who’s had
keep improving. And we some shaky outings lately,
have one more series to threw a hitless ninth for his
go,” triumphant manager fifth save this postseason.
Alex Cora said Thursday Boston slugger J.D. Marti-
night. nez homered and star out-
On his 43rd birthday, Cora The Boston Red Sox pose for a picture after winning the baseball American League Championship fielders Mookie Betts and
became the first manager Series against the Houston Astros on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Houston. Red Sox won 4-1. Andrew Benintendi made
from Puerto Rico to take a running catches in the
team to the World Series. World Series trip since win- Astros. out nine. clincher. Bradley, stuck in a
The club that led the majors ning it all in 2013. Sale went 12-4 with a 2.11 The 2012 AL Cy Young slump for much of the sea-
with 108 wins this season Those extra days off at ERA this season, but was Award winner was thrilled son, batted just .200 and
eliminated the defending home will give Sale even limited down the stretch he won’t be asked again his three hits were the few-
champion Houston Astros more time to rest up. because of shoulder trou- about that zero in the win est for any position player
with a 4-1 victory, taking The seven-time All-Star has ble. His velocity dipped in column. to win MVP of a league
the AL Championship Se- been regaining strength the playoffs, where he won “That’s awesome,” Price championship series.
ries 4-1. since his release Monday the AL Division Series open- said. “I don’t have to pre- But he did plenty of dam-
After the Red Sox surround- from Massachusetts Gener- er against the New York pare myself for it in spring age with a grand slam,
ed Cora in the clubhouse al Hospital, where he spent Yankees and also relieved training on Feb. 20 or Sep- two-run homer and a
and sang “happy birth- Sunday night for observa- in the clinching Game 4. tember when I’ve still got three-run double. “There’s
day!” to their rookie skipper, tion because of a stom- Sale lost the ALCS opener five regular-season starts. I nobody on this team that
they began turning their at- ach illness. The club hasn’t to Houston, working four un- don’t have to answer that I can think of in baseball
tention to next week. specified Sale’s ailment or even innings. After recently question anymore. And that deserves it more than
Game 1 of the World Series treatment. losing weight, he threw on man, it feels good.” Jackie,” Price said.
is Tuesday night at Fenway Cora said before Thursday flat ground Thursday, lead- Cora felt equally good af- “He continues to push for-
Park against the Los Ange- night’s game that the lefty ing Cora to say Sale was ter watching Price outpitch ward through everything
les Dodgers or Milwaukee ace was prepared for his ready. October star Justin Ver- that he has to go through.
Brewers. The Dodgers hold next start — either in the The rest of the Red Sox look lander for the victory. Watching him line out, hit-
a 3-2 lead in the NLCS go- ALCS or the World Series locked in. “There was a lot of noise,” ting balls 100-plus miles an
ing into Game 6 on Friday opener. Price had been 0-9 with a Cora said. “I heard some- hour routinely this year and
night at Miller Park. “We knew the skinny guy 6.16 ERA in 11 career post- body today on TV just blast- last year, to see him get that
The Red Sox will try to bring was ready for Game 6,” season starts before hold- ing David, blasting him, MVP award, to get those
Boston its fourth crown in Cora said after Price and ing Houston to three hits in calling him the worst pitch- big hits, I’m so pumped for
15 years — this is their first the Red Sox finished off the six shutout innings, striking er in the postseason. Yeah, him.”q

Red Sox ace Sale feeling better, set to start in Series

HOUSTON (AP) — Chris pionship Series. lined up to start a Game 6
Sale is set to make his next Boston’s 4-1 victory over back home on Saturday.
scheduled start for the the Houston Astros put the Instead, his teammates
Boston Red Sox. And now, Red Sox in the World Series closed out the series, and
he knows that will be in the for the first time since 2013. the lefty ace gets more
World Series. Sale is expected to start time to rest and recover.
Red Sox manager Alex the opener Tuesday night Sale has been regaining
Cora said Thursday that at Fenway Park against strength since his release
Sale threw on flat ground the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday from Massachu-
again earlier in the day or Milwaukee Brewers. setts General Hospital,
and was feeling better Sale was initially slated to where he spent Sunday
since a stomach illness led pitch Game 5 of the ALCS night for observation.
to him spending a night in on Thursday, but was ruled The club hasn’t speci-
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale warms up during the hospital. out because the illness left fied Sale’s ailment or
batting practice before Game 4 of a baseball American League “So he’s ready for his next him weak. treatment, though Cora
Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, start,” Cora said before If the Red Sox had lost, has said it was nothing
Oct. 17, 2018, in Houston. Game 5 of the AL Cham- Sale would have been serious.q
Associated Press