World Series Game 1: The pivot points as Boston takes the first game, 8-4
By Bill Felber
Pivot Point: Patience
The Dodgers’ plan for victory was predicated on patience, and more specifically on making Red Sox starter Chris Sale work. Whether this was a deliberate response to Sale’s recent hospitalization or a sense that the Sox bullpen could be attacked, Dodger hitters carried it out with commitment.
Of the first 18 Dodgers to bat, 14 took Sale’s first pitch, and 11 took his first two. Short-term, the strategy worked; not a single one of those patient Dodger hitters dug an 0-2 hole, and Sale’s pitch count went stratospheric, reaching into the 70s after just three innings.
That did lead to some damage. Matt Kemp homered in the second, then Justin Turner, David Freese and Manny Machado strung singles in the third. The latter netted one run, but failed to generate any more when Chris Taylor took a lovely little third strike over the heart of the plate and Matt Kemp went off the patience script, grounding easily to Sale on the first pitch.
Long-term, though, the plan failed to maximize offense. Counting the leadoff walk in the fifth who prompted Sale’s removal — the runner eventually scored — LA managed three runs against him. But getting Sale out of the game did not prove the boon the Dodgers appeared to hope; his six successors held them to just one run.