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 2: Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox
J.D. Martinez hit a mammoth two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to fuel a six-run rally and propel the Boston Red Sox to a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of USA TODAY Sports' annual Simulated World Series.
The Red Sox trailed 4-3 entering the eighth, but Andrew Benintendi drew a leadoff walk against Dodger reliever Pedro Baez and Martinez followed with a 508-foot blast to center field that would have to rank among the longest home runs ever hit at Fenway Park.
Box score: Red Sox 9, Dodgers 4
But that wasn't all for the relentless Red Sox.
Back-to-back-to-back doubles by Xander Bogaerts, Steve Pearce and Ian Kinsler plated two more runs. Blake Swihart and Mookie Betts also contributed RBI singles to turn a one-run deficit into a five-run lead.
Full play-by-play: Martinez's big blast helps Red Sox pull away in Game 2
The Dodgers got on the board early when Chris Taylor hit the first pitch of the game from Boston's David Price into the Green Monster seats for a 1-0 L.A. lead.
Kinsler put Boston on top in the second with a two-run shot off Ryu and Betts added an RBI double in the third.
However the Dodgers came right back to tie the game in the fourth on a Max Muncy homer and an Austin Barnes RBI double. Then in the seventh, Cody Bellinger's bases-loaded single off reliever Matt Barnes scored Manny Machado to put L.A. up 4-3.
The series, now tied 1-1, moves west to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for Games 3, 4 and 5.
Previous results
Game 1: Dodgers 4, Red Sox 3 (10 innings)
What to watch in (the actual) Game 2
– Wall ball: The 37-foot high Green Monster in left field is as imposing for pitchers as it it attractive for hitters. Just 310 feet from home plate, the Monster was an inviting target in Game 2.
Chris Taylor's homer leading off the game cleared the wall and the seats on top of it, landing on Lansdowne Street outside the park.
Kinsler also hit his homer in the second inning over the Monster.
The wall was also in play on a pair of RBI doubles — by Betts in the third that put Boston in front and by Austin Barnes in the fourth that tied the game up again.
— Closer conundrum: As was the case in Sim Series Game 1, one team had its closer up and throwing in the eighth inning while clinging to a one-run lead … but chose not to deploy him. However, this time the teams were reversed. With Kenley Jansen warm, the Dodgers stuck with Baez after he allowed the potential tying run to reach base leading off the inning.
The next batter, Martinez, turned around a Baez fastball and turned the game around at the same time with his go-ahead homer. Jansen eventually entered after Baez allowed a loud double, but it was too late.
If the setup men on either team should struggle, look for the managers to be even more aggressive with their closers as the series progresses.
— Temper, temper: Dynasty League Baseball accounts for players' personalities by giving each one an intangibles rating. That came into play on Betts' RBI double that scored Jackie Bradley Jr. on a close play at the plate. The home plate umpire called Bradley safe and Grandal (Intangible rating: C) erupted in protest, earning himself an ejection in the process.
(Only two players in this World Series have a "hot temper" rating, which could lead to a quick ejection: Dodgers outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp.)
— Steal a base, steal a taco: Los Angeles pitchers as a whole are not very good at preventing stolen bases. The Red Sox added another stolen base in Sim Series Game 2 (by Andrew Benintendi off Baez) to give them three in two games.
Baez and Jansen are particularly poor at holding runners, so look for the Red Sox to run when the opportunity arises. That could be especially important if the game is close in the late innings.
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.
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