Rafael Devers, David Price, and the rest of the Red Sox roster gave their manager Alex Cora the best birthday present. The Puerto Rican is already the second Latin American driver in history to have led a team to the World Series.
Devers hit a three-run home run that stunned Justin Verlander and the defending champs, and Boston beat the Houston Astros 4-1 to advance to another October Classic.
Price healed his postseason traumas with efficient work in the game against Verlander, and Boston won 4-1 in the American League Championship Series.
“We have four wins left. This is something very special, no doubt, but we want more ”, declared Price.
Cora, who turned 43 on the day, thus emulated Ozzie Guillén. The Venezuelan was crowned in the 2005 World Series with the Chicago White Sox.
Before leaving Minute Maid Park, the Red Sox surrounded Cora in the clubhouse and belted out “Happy Birthday” to her. Wearing protective goggles as a precaution, the team members then launched into the champagne jet war, of course involving their pilot.
Cora was hired a year ago while preparing to play in the World Series as Houston’s bench coach. He got the job a month after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and he immediately organized initiatives to bring humanitarian aid to the island.
“I know that right now, after everything we’ve been through as a nation … the fact that I’m standing here with this trophy makes many people in Puerto Rico proud of me,” said Cora, with the statuette awarded to the American League champions.
After losing the first game of the series at home, the Red Sox won four in a row, including three at Minute Maid Park, to improve to 5-0 on the road in these playoffs.
Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr and the Red Sox will seek Boston’s fourth crown in 15 years. They will open the World Series on Tuesday at home at Fenway Park, against the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers have a 3-2 lead in the National League Championship Series, whose sixth game is scheduled for Friday night at Miller Park.
Boston had not played the World Series since 2013, when it was crowned.
Bradley was named the MVP of the Championship Series, while Andrew Benintendi caught a long fly ball for the final out.
That catch wasn’t nearly as spectacular as the one that ended Game 4 on Wednesday night. On that play, one of the keys to the series, the left fielder dived recklessly to get the ball when the bases were congested.
But this out put an end to the series and provoked a chorus of boos from the local public. Meanwhile, the Red Sox ran into the field in joy, where they jumped and hugged.
They posed for a picture on the mound a couple of minutes later, as members of Houston’s pitching staff left the field, in a scene very different from last year, when the Astros won the Series for the first time in history. World.
“They beat us. We are left without the ability to win ”, lamented manager AJ Hinch.
For the Red Sox, Devers 4-1 with one run scored and three RBIs. Puerto Rican Christian Vázquez 3-1.
For the Astros, Venezuelans José Altuve 4-1, Marwin González 4-1 with a run scored and an RBI. Puerto Ricans Carlos Correa 4-0, Martín Maldonado 2-0. The Cuban Yuli Gurriel 3-2. AFP