World Series 38: 1988 Dodgers vs. 2013 Red Sox
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SERIES 38
(62) 1988 DODGERS VS. (67) 2013 RED SOX
Before Game 4 of the World Series, Bob Costas called the Dodgers lineup that day maybe the “weakest in World Series history”. The Dodgers upset the A’s in 5 games in the World Series, which featured Kirk Gibson’s walk-off HR in Game 1. Gibson was the NL MVP, as he hit .290/.377/.483, 25 HR, 76 RBI, 106 runs, 31 SB. Mike Marshall was the only other Dodger with more than 11 HR—20 HR, 82 RBI, .758 OPS. Orel Hershiser (23-8, 2.26 ERA, league leading 267 IP, 15 CG, 8 SHO) was the unanimous Cy Young Award winner as he set the MLB record with a 59 inning scoreless streak. Tim Leary (17-11, 2.91), Tim Belcher (12-6, 2.91) and John Tudor (2.41 ERA in 9 starts after being acquired in a mid-season trade) joined him in the strong rotation.
Hall of Famer David Ortiz hit .309/.395/.564, 30 HR, 103 RBI to lead the Red Sox lineup. Dustin Pedroia hit .301 AVG, .787 OPS, 91 runs while Mike Napoli hit 23 HR, .842 OPS, 92 RBI. Jon Lester was 15-8, 3.75 ERA to lead the rotation. Koji Uehara had a 1.09 ERA and 21 saves in 73 appearances. The Red Sox beat the Cardinals in 6 games in the World Series.
The ace starter in Game 7 rule has been invoked. An additional day off has been scheduled to allow Orel Hershiser to come back and make a third start in Game 7.
Game 1: The game was tied, 1-1, until Kirk Gibson hit a 2 run home run in the 6th inning. David Ortiz hit a solo home run in the 8th before the Dodgers closed out a 3-2 win.
Orel Hershiser earned the win (2 R in 8.1 IP on 7 H, 8 K, 5 BB). Jon Lester took the loss (3 R in 6 IP, 6 K, 1 BB). Gibson and Ortiz were the only players on either team to get two hits in the game.
Game 2: The Red Sox scored 4 in the top of the 1st and added 1 in the 2nd. The Dodgers countered with 1 in the bottom of the 2nd and then 4 in the 3rd. Dustin Pedroia’s fielder’s choice grounder in the 5th gave the Red Sox a 6-5 lead and that turned out to be the end of the scoring. Jacoby Ellsbury homered to go along with his 3 hits, 3 runs and a triple. He was the only player on either team to have more than one hit. John Lackey got the win (5 R in 6 IP on 3 H). Tim Leary pitched a complete game while taking the loss (6 R on 7 H in 9 IP, 9 K, 2 BB). The teams combined for just 11 hits (Red Sox 7, Dodgers 4).
Game 3: The Dodgers took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the 8th before a throwing error by SS Alfredo Griffin tied the game and then David Ortiz’s 2 run home run gave the Red Sox the lead. J.D. Drew’s RBI double supplied an insurance run before Koji Uehara set the Dodgers down 1-2-3 in the 9th for a 6-3 Red Sox win. Ortiz had 3 hits (1 2B, 2 RBI) and Jacoby Ellsbury (2 2B, 1 RBI) and Will Middlebrooks (1 run) had 2 hits for the Red Sox. Steve Sax homered for the Dodgers, who didn’t have anyone with a multi-hit game (6 H overall). Jake Peavy got a no decision for the Red Sox (3 R in 6.1 IP, 6 H, 5 K, 0 BB). John Tudor pitched a complete game in defeat (6 R (3 ER) on 11 H, 5 K, 0 BB in just 8 IP).
Game 4: Tim Belcher (2 R in 8 IP, 6 H) outpitched Clay Buchholz (3 R in 7.1 IP) in a 3-2 Dodgers’ win that evened the series at 2 games apiece. Neither game scored more than a run in any inning. John Shelby had 3 hits (1 RBI) and Mike Scioscia had 2 hits (2 2B) for the Dodgers. Jacoby Ellsbury (1 2B, 1 RBI) and Mike Napoli had 2 hits each for the Red Sox.
Game 5: David Ortiz hit a 3 run home run in the bottom of the 3rd to give the Red Sox a 3-1 lead. That held up until Rick Dempsey and Mike Davis both had RBI doubles in the 7th to tie the game. Mike Marshall’s bases loaded walk in the 8th scored what proved to be the winning run in the Dodgers’ 4-3 victory. Orel Hershiser got the win (3 R in 8.2 IP, 9 H). Jon Lester took the loss (4 R (1 ER) in 7.1 IP).
Game 6: The Dodgers took a 4-0 lead in the 3rd on Kirk Gibson’s RBI fielder’s choice, a run scoring passed ball and Mark Marshall’s 2 run home run. The shutout remained until the Red Sox scored a run despite Dustin Pedroia hitting into a 6-4-3 DP and J.D. Drew’s RBI single in the 7th cut the deficit to 4-2. In the 8th, David Ortiz’s 2 run triple tied the game and Daniel Nava’s RBI single put the Red Sox into the lead. After John Shelby’s RBI single retied the game in the bottom of the inning, Jacoby Ellsbury reached on an E3 with out in the top of the 9th, stole 2nd and 3rd and then then scored when Shane Victorino grounded to SS Alfredo Griffin, who made a throwing error to score what proved to be the winning run in Boston’s 6-5 victory.
Jacoby Ellsbury scored 2 runs and David Ortiz had 2 RBI, but otherwise, the Red Sox got 6 hits from 6 different players. Mike Marshall (1 HR, 2 RBI) and Franklin Stubbs (1 2B) had 2 hits for the Dodgers. Both starters got no decisions: John Lackey (4 R in 4.2 IP) and Tim Leary (5 R (2 ER) in 8 IP).
Game 7: The Red Sox loaded the bases with 1 out in the 2nd before Will Middlebrooks struck out and Jacoby Ellsbury grounded to second to end the inning. The game was scoreless until John Shelby’s RBI single in the bottom of the 4th gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Mike Napoli’s RBI single in the 6th tied the game. The game remained tied, 1-1, heading to extra inning. In the 11th, the Dodgers had runners at the corners with 2 outs before Rick Dempsey struck out. Daniel Nava led off the 12th with a double but the Red Sox couldn’t get him home. Shane Victorino then led off the top of the 13th with a single and stole second but the Red Sox couldn’t get him home. In the bottom of the inning, Mike Marshall had a 2-out single, stole second before John Shelby struck out. Jeff Hamilton led off the bottom of the 14th with a walk before being replaced by pinch runner Alfredo Griffin. On a 1-0 pitch from Ryan Dempster, the Red Sox 5th reliever of the game, Dempsey hit a series clinching home run down the left field line—348 feet. The Dodgers won the series with a 3-1 victory.
Orel Hershiser gave up 1 R in 11.2 IP, with 10 K, 1 BB and he allowed 8 pitches. Hershiser threw 147 pitches, 110 strikes, while facing 44 batters (1 batter shy of making it through the order a 5th time). Jon Lester got a no decision for the Red Sox (1 R in 5 IP). Rick Dempsey (series winning walk-off HR), Steve Sax and Kirk Gibson (1 2B, 1 run) all had 2 hits for the Dodgers. Daniel Nava had 3 hits (1 2B) for the Red Sox.
MVP: Orel Hershiser, 2-0, 1.88 ERA (6 R / 28.2 IP), 32 K, 8 BB in 3 starts
Mike Scioscia: .313/.313/.625 (5-16 AB), 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Rick Dempsey: .308/.308/.615 (4-13 AB), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs
David Ortiz: .333/.419/.889 (9-27 AB), 4 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI, 7 runs
SCORES
Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2
Red Sox 6, Dodgers 5
Red Sox 6, Dodgers 3
Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2
Dodgers 4, Red Sox 3
Red Sox 6, Dodgers 5
Dodgers 3, Red Sox 1 (14)
The Dodgers advance to the second round, to face the 1953 Yankees (#17 seed).
The Red Sox drop into the loser’s bracket, where they will get a second round bye and face a yet to be determined opponent in the third round.
FIRST ROUND SERIES
1. (25) 1984 Tigers beat (104) 2006 Cardinals, 4 games to 0
2. (103) 1987 Twins beat (26) 1955 Dodgers, 4 games to 3
3. (27) 2016 Cubs beat (102) 2000 Yankees, 4 games to 2
4. (28) 1950 Yankees beat (101) 2014 Giants, 4 games to 1
5. (29) 1920 Indians beat (100) 2021 Braves, 4 games to 3
6. (99) 2011 Cardinals beat (30) 1968 Tigers, 4 games to 3
7. (31) 1951 Yankees beat (98) 1974 A’s, 4 games to 2
8. (32) 2009 Yankees beat (97) 2023 Rangers, 4 games to 2
9. (33) 1943 Yankees beat (96) 1985 Royals, 4 games to 3
10. (95) 2003 Marlins beat (34) 1981 Dodgers, 4 games to 0
11. (35) 1947 Yankees beat (94) 1980 Phillies, 4 games to 0
12. (36) 1956 Yankees beat (93) 1990 Reds, 4 games to 2
13. (37) 1976 Reds beat (92) 1959 Dodgers, 4 games to 2
14. (38) 1949 Yankees beat (91) 1997 Marlins, 4 games to 3
15. (39) 1954 Giants beat (90) 1982 Cardinals, 4 games to 3
16. (40) 1946 Cardinals beat (89) 1996 Yankees, 4 games to 3
17. (88) 2010 Giants beat (41) 1967 Cardinals, 4 games to 1
18. (87) 2008 Phillies beat (42) 1948 Indians, 4 games to 3
19. (43) 1995 Braves beat (86) 2001 Diamondbacks, 4 games to 1
20. (85) 1964 Cardinals beat (44) 2017 Astros, 4 games to 1
21. (84) 2019 Nationals beat (45) 1925 Pirates, 4 games to 0
22. (83) 1945 Tigers beat (46) 1934 Cardinals, 4 games to 0
23. (47) 1977 Yankees beat (82) 1926 Cardinals, 4 games to 3
24. (48) 1952 Yankees beat (81) 2012 Giants, 4 games to 2
25. (49) 1957 Braves beat (80) 1973 A’s, 4 games to 2
26. (50) 1960 Pirates beat (79) 2024 Dodgers, 4 games to 1
27. (51) 1969 Mets beat (78) 2015 Royals, 4 games to 3
28. (52) 1935 Tigers beat (77) 1993 Blue Jays, 4 games to 3
29. (53) 1921 Giants beat (76) 1991 Twins, 4 games to 0
30. (54) 1978 Yankees beat (75) 1992 Blue Jays, 4 games to 2
31. (55) 2002 Angels beat (74) 1962 Yankees, 4 games to 0
32. (73) 2007 Red Sox beat (56) 1989 A’s, 4 games to 1
33. (72) 1924 Senators beat (57) 2005 White Sox, 4 games to 2
34. (71) 1958 Yankees beat (58) 1963 Dodgers, 4 games to 1
35. (59) 1966 Orioles beat (70) 1965 Dodgers, 4 games to 3
36. (69) 1933 Giants beat (60) 2004 Red Sox, 4 games to 3
37. (68) 1971 Pirates beat (61) 1999 Yankees, 4 games to 1
38. (62) 1988 Dodgers beat (67) 2013 Red Sox, 4 games to 3
UPCOMING SERIES
39. (63) 1983 Orioles vs. (66) 1972 A’s
40. (64) 1979 Pirates vs. (65) 1922 Giants
END OF FIRST ROUND