Dodgers at Red Sox
The Los Angeles Dodgers finally found a way to win at Fenway Park on Saturday and are poised to exact some revenge with a series victory when they visit the Boston Red Sox for the finale of the three-game interleague set on Sunday. The Dodgers, who dropped Games 1 and 2 of the World Series at Fenway Park last October, fell in the series opener on Friday before bouncing back with an 11-2 triumph on Saturday.
Los Angeles totaled six runs in dropping Games 1 and 2 last fall and dropped an 8-1 decision on Friday before finally finding its offense at Fenway Park and bashing four home runs among 14 hits in Saturday's triumph. The most impressive blast was a shot by Cody Bellinger off knuckleballer Steven Wright in the seventh that traveled over 430 feet and marked the 31st home run of the season for the All-Star, tying him with Milwaukee's Christian Yelich for the major-league lead. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Red Sox, who continue to lag behind the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians in the wild-card race while chasing the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Dodgers will try to earn the win behind All-Star left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, while Boston turns to World Series hero David Price in the finale on Sunday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (10-2, 1.73 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (7-2, 3.24)
Ryu owns the best ERA in the majors and started the All-Star Game for the National League on Tuesday, yielding one hit in a scoreless frame before handing the ball off to teammate Clayton Kershaw. The South Korea native suffered through his worst start of the season at Colorado on June 28 but bounced back on July 4 against San Diego, breezing through six scoreless innings in a win. Ryu made one appearance in the World Series last fall and took the loss in Game 2 while allowing four runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings at Fenway Park.
Price earned the win over Ryu in Game 2 of the World Series - yielding two runs in six frames - and picked up the victory in the Game 5 clincher while allowing one run and three hits in seven frames. The Vanderbilt product, who suffered his last loss on April 27, surrendered a total of three runs and eight hits in 11 innings at Toronto and Detroit to win his first two starts of July. Price issued a total of four walks in 24 2/3 innings in June but is up to six free passes already in July.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Red Sox acquired RHP Andrew Cashner from the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers.
2. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner went 3-for-5 with a home run and a pair of doubles on Saturday, matching his hit total from his previous eight games.
3. Boston SS Xander Bogaerts homered in each of the first two games of the series and scored at least one run in five straight contests.