Simulated World Series: Dodgers rally vs. Red Sox bullpen to win Game 1
How will this year's World Series play out? Using the Dynasty League Baseball online simulation, Paste BN Sports' Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.
Game 1: Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox
Matt Kemp's two-out RBI single in the top of the 10th inning scored David Freese with the go-ahead run as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a thrilling comeback for a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of Paste BN Sports annual Simulated World Series.
Box score: Dodgers 4, Red Sox 3 (10 innings)
The Red Sox led for most of the game thanks to back-to-back home runs by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts off Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw in the third inning.
With Boston still clinging to a 3-1 lead, L.A. tied the game in the eighth against a tiring Chris Sale, loading the bases on a throwing error by Eduardo Nunez, a one-out walk to Yasmani Grandal and a single by Chris Taylor.
Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly retired Justin Turner on a fly ball to center field for the second out, but playoff veteran David Freese came through with a single to left to make it a one-run game. And Manny Machado beat out a dribbler in front of the plate to bring home the tying run.
Game summary: Dodgers rally late vs. Red Sox relievers in Game 1
The Dodgers took the lead in the 10th on a one-out double by Freese and Kemp followed a strikeout by Machado with a clean single to left to bring home the go-ahead run.
Kenley Jansen worked around a hit batter and an infield single to retire the side in the bottom of the 10th and record the save.
The Dodgers will take a 1-0 lead into Game 2 at Fenway Park on Wednesday with Hyun-Jin Ryu on the mound against David Price of the Red Sox.
What to watch in (the actual) Game 1
– Starter strategy: Both teams are significantly better offensively against right-handed pitchers than vs. lefties. While the Milwaukee Brewers used an "opener" strategy against the Dodgers in the NLCS, the Red Sox won't have to do that with southpaws Chris Sale and David Price starting four of a possible seven games.
However, the Red Sox have just one lefty, Eduardo Rodriguez, in their bullpen -- which could work to the Dodgers' advantage late in games.
(Note: Boston added left-hander Drew Pomeranz to its World Series roster on Tuesday.)
Meanwhile, L.A. has several lefties in the bullpen and can even use starters Alex Wood and Rich Hill in relief if needed.
– Home runs aplenty: The Dodgers led the National League in home runs and the Red Sox led the majors in scoring during the regular season, so the longball figures to play a major role in this series.
Kike Hernandez got the Dodgers on the board in the second inning with a solo shot off Sale. The Red Sox responded with two homers of their own in the third.
– Bullpen decisions: With both starters pitching extremely well through seven innings in Game 1, the managers' decisions on when to deploy their relievers were magnified. As the Dodgers loaded the bases against Sale in the eighth, Boston had setup man Joe Kelly and closer Craig Kimbrel warming in the bullpen.
Only after Kelly gave up the tying runs did Kimbrel enter the game to put out the fire. (As the Red Sox manager in this simulated series, that's one decision I'd like to have back.)
Can Red Sox manager Alex Cora go to Kimbrel for a four- or five-out save? Or should he have confidence in a bullpen that was so dominant in the ALCS? When the two teams decide to use their closers could be extremely important.
As it turned out, Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth and Ryan Brasier gave up the game-winning hit in the 10th.
– Clutch hitting: The difference in this game was the Dodgers' ability to come through with runners in scoring position. L.A. was 5-for-10 in those situations in Game 1, while Boston was 0-for-7.
– Outfield defense: The Red Sox have a stellar group of outfielders, which can take away scoring opportunities from the Dodgers. In the top of the first inning, Justin Turner tried to score from second on a two-out single by Machado but was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr.
Then in the eighth, the Dodgers didn't test the arm of left fielder Andrew Benintendi on Freese's two-out single, even though it would have sent the tying run to the plate. The Red Sox's ability to prevent the Dodgers from taking the extra base on balls hit to the outfield could be a major factor over the course of the series.
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