How will this year's World Series play out? Using the Dynasty League Baseball online simulation, USA TODAY 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 3: Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers
Kike Hernandez drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to force in the go-ahead run as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Boston Red Sox 2-1 to win Game 3 of USA TODAY Sports' annual Simulated World Series.
Rick Porcello and Walker Buehler staged a classic pitcher's duel for seven innings, leading to a showdown between the closers — and Boston's Craig Kimbrel was the one who faltered as the Dodgers scored the winning run without the benefit of a hit.
Box score: Dodgers 2, Red Sox 1
The rally began with one out when Justin Turner was hit by a pitch from Ryan Brasier (0-2). He advanced to second on a walk to Max Muncy.
After Manny Machado was retired on a fly ball to left for the second out, the Red Sox brought in Kimbrel to face Cody Bellinger.
The Red Sox appeared to be out of the inning, but second baseman Ian Kinsler couldn't field Bellinger's grounder cleanly for an error.
With the bases loaded, Kimbrel's 3-2 fastball to Enrique Hernandez was too high and the walk forced in the go-ahead run.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen allowed the tying run to reach second base with two outs in the ninth, but he struck out Kinsler to end the game and record the save.
Full play-by-play: Pitcher's duel decided by closers in Game 3
However, the story of the game was the performance of the two starters. The Dodgers' Buehler allowed three hits in seven masterful innings — with the one blemish being Rafael Devers' solo home run in the second inning.
Meanwhile, Porcello held Los Angeles hitless for the first three innings and scoreless through five before Max Muncy led off the sixth with a home run to tie the game. Brasier, who was also the losing pitcher in Sim Series Game 1, pitched a clean seventh, but got into trouble in the eighth and gave way to Kimbrel.
Pedro Baez (1-1), the losing pitcher in Game 2, got the final out in the eighth to get the win.
Previous results
Game 1: Dodgers 4, Red Sox 3 (10 innings)
Game 2: Red Sox 9, Dodgers 4
What to watch in (the actual) Game 3
— No DH in L.A.: Boston has to make a decision on what to do with the big bat of J.D. Martinez since he'll have to play the field for the three games in the National League park. In Game 3, Martinez started in right field and Mookie Betts moved to center in place of Jackie Bradley Jr.
Martinez actually made a clutch catch in the outfield in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the Red Sox leading 1-0, the Dodgers had runners on first and second with two outs when Hernandez lined one toward the right field corner. However, Martinez made the snow cone catch to preserve the shutout.
– Righties on the mound: For the first time in the Series, both teams get to start their left-handed hitting platoon players. Boston got Devers into the starting lineup at third base in place of Eduardo Nunez and the move paid off immediately when he homered in his first at-bat. The Sox also started lefty-swinging Brock Holt at second base. He finished 0-for-2 with a walk.
For the Dodgers, Joc Pederson started in left field and led off, with Muncy at first base replacing Chris Taylor and David Freese. Pederson went 0-for-4, but Muncy had the game-tying solo homer in the sixth.
— Defensive downgrade: Although Martinez made a nice catch on his only challenging play, the Red Sox were a little shaky on defense in Game 3. Playing center field instead of his usual spot in right, Betts got his signals crossed with left fielder Andrew Benintendi on a fly ball in the bottom of the second inning. The ball ticked off Benintendi's glove for a two-base error, but Porcello was able to get out of the inning unscathed.
Although it wasn't a factor in this game, Devers is a downgrade defensively at third base from Nunez. He even made a nice play on a sharply hit ball by Manny Machado in the sixth that his "D" range rating indicated would be an out just 21% of the time.
Devers and shortstop Xander Bogaerts are both rated as "D range" defenders on the left side, so ground balls hit their way are more likely to turn into base hits. Along with Martinez, the Red Sox have three players with poor range among their nine starters. And even Gold Glover Betts gets dinged slightly moving from A+ range in right field to B+ in center.
— Kimbrel's one weakness: We pointed out last game how several Dodger relievers have trouble preventing stolen bases. That almost played out as the Red Sox got the tying run in scoring position with a two-out steal of second base vs. Jansen.
Kimbrel's biggest issue this season has been his occasional lapses in control. He walked 4.5 batters per nine innings during the regular season — and with the bases loaded and the game tied, he walked Hernandez to force in what turned out to be the winning run.
Simulate your own World Series. Get a FREE one-month subscription to Dynasty League Baseball online by going to DynastyLeagueBaseball.com, selecting the monthly option and entering code USA2 at checkout.
Source: Read Full Article