Fenway Park proved too tricky, too cold and just too much for the Dodgers in the World Series opener. Andrew Benintendi, JD Martinez and the Boston Red Sox came out swinging, seizing every advantage in their quirky ballpark to beat Los Angeles 8-4 on a chilly, windy Tuesday night.
Benintendi delivered four hits, Martinez drove in two early runs and pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunez golfed a three-run homer to seal it. “Up and down the lineup there’s not an easy out. We’re going to grind out at-bats,” Benintendi said after the game. The 108-win Red Sox got a strong effort from their bullpen after an expected duel between aces Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw failed to ignite.
Snack Time Fantasy (@Snack_TimeFS)
THREE-RUN HOMER for Eduardo Nunez in the bottom of the 7th! #RedSox lead the #Dodgers 8-4!#Postseason #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/kFCMh87OJd
From the very start, 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.
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.
The crowd and cold temperatures were no picnic for the Dodgers, either, and Fenway Park became an echo chamber even before the first pitch. Chants of “Beat LA!” began early, Kershaw got heckled with a sing-song serenade and Red Sox villain Manny Machado heard loud boos all evening.
Only one person wearing Dodger blue drew a cheer: manager Dave Roberts, saluted in pregame introductions for the daring steal that turned the tide in Boston’s 2004 playoff comeback against the Yankees.
It was 53F (11.5C) for the 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 103F (39C) for the opener at Dodger Stadium.
The Red Sox are playing in their fourth World Series in 15 years, having won in 2004, 2007 and 2013. The Dodgers are playing in their second straight Fall Classic, though they haven’t won the title since 1988. Game 2 is on Wednesday night, when it’s supposed to be even colder. David Price, fresh from beating Houston in the ALCS clincher, starts against Hyun-Jin Ryu.