BOSTON -- Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez and the Boston Red Sox came out swinging in the World Series opener, seizing every advantage in their quirky ballpark to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on a chilly, windy Tuesday night.
Benintendi (Arkansas Razorbacks) had four hits, Martinez drove in two early runs and pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunez golfed a three-run home run to seal it.
Benintendi, who also scored three runs and drove in the first run of the game, tied a Red Sox franchise record with his four World Series hits. Wally Moses in 1946 and Jacoby Ellsbury in 2007 previously achieved the feat.
Red Sox Manager Alex Cora didn't hesitate to use his lefties against Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.
"It's huge, especially against a guy like that and a team like that," said Benintendi, who had one four-hit game in the regular season but had never topped two in a postseason game. He also became the second left-handed hitter to go 3 for 3 in a game against Kershaw.
The Red Sox, who had 108 victories in the regular season, got a solid effort from their bullpen after an expected duel between aces Chris Sale and Kershaw never developed.
From the get-go, Fenway Park caused all sorts of problems for the Dodgers.
Mookie Betts led off for the Red Sox with a popup that twisted first baseman David Freese as he tried to navigate the tight foul space near the stands. He overran the ball and it dropped behind him.
Given a second chance, Betts lined a single that set up a two-run first inning.
"It was important for us to score first and kind of put some pressure on them," Betts said.
In the seventh, left fielder Joc Pederson looked hesitant as he chased Benintendi's soft fly, rushing toward the seats that jut out down the line. The ball ticked off his glove for a double, and soon Nunez connected to break open a 5-4 game.
It was 53 degrees at first pitch, the coldest game for Los Angeles this year and quite a contrast from last year's World Series, when it was a record 103 degrees for the opener at Dodger Stadium.
Matt Kemp homered and Justin Turner had three hits for the Dodgers, aiming for their first crown since 1988. Machado drove in three runs, and his RBI grounder in the fifth inning made it 3-3.
Boston retook the lead in the bottom half when Xander Bogaerts hustled to beat out a potential inning-ending double play. Rafael Devers followed with an RBI single, giving himself an early birthday present. He turned 22 at midnight, three minutes before the game ended.
Martinez led the majors with 130 RBI and gave the crowd a scare when his foot slipped rounding second base on a run-scoring double in the third. He fell hard, but soon got up.
Kershaw took the loss in his first appearance at Fenway, tagged for 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner fell to 9-9 in the postseason.
Matt Barnes, the first of six Boston relievers, got the victory. They combined to hold the Dodgers to 1 run on 3 hits in 5 innings.
Sports on 10/24/2018