David Price Shines as Red Sox Beat Dodgers to Take 2-0 World Series Lead

The Boston Red Sox are in firm control of the 2018 World Series.

Boston won Wednesday's Game 2 at Fenway Park over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2, building a 2-0 lead over its National League foe. David Price started for the victors and allowed two earned runs, three hits and three walks while striking out five in six innings, while J.D. Martinez spearheaded the offense with the decisive two-RBI single in the fifth.

Los Angeles countered with Hyun-Jin Ryu, who gave up four earned runs, six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Elite Price Another Nail in Dodgers' WS Coffin

The Dodgers don't have a chance in this World Series if the dominant version of Price is going to show up instead of the lackluster playoff one.

Boston's offense led the league in runs (876), hits (1,509), doubles (355), batting average (.268), on-base percentage (.339) and slugging percentage (.453). Ace Chris Sale is arguably the best pitcher in baseball and figures to improve on his Game 1 showing (three earned runs in four innings) as he puts his American League Championship Series hospitalization further in the rearview mirror.

Price's history of postseason struggles was a sliver of hope in an otherwise daunting task for the Dodgers, but he retired the final seven batters he faced as Boston took the lead for good in the middle innings.

Much like Clayton Kershaw for Los Angeles, the difference between Price's regular-season performances and his playoff showings is a defining characteristic of his career. He has a Cy Young, two ERA titles and five All-Star nods to go with a 3.25 career ERA, but his postseason ERA was 5.04 entering Game 2.

He started down a familiar path in this year's playoffs when he allowed a combined seven earned runs and three homers in 6.1 innings in his first two starts against the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, but he put some of his demons behind him with six scoreless innings in Game 5 of the ALCS.

Price picked up right where he left off Wednesday and baffled a starting Dodgers lineup that was missing a combined 85 home runs with left-handed hitters Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Joc Pederson on the bench to avoid the southpaw.

The loaded Red Sox present enough problems for an overmatched Dodgers team. This World Series is all but over if Price is going to perform at an elevated level as well.

Dodgers Bullpen Can't Contend with Red Sox Bats

The Dodgers have a dangerous weapon at the back end of their bullpen in Kenley Jansen, but they have been unable to get to him against the mighty Red Sox offense.

It started in Game 1 when manager Dave Roberts took the red-hot Pedro Baez out after two strikeouts with an eye on a lefty-lefty matchup of Alex Wood against Rafael Devers. However, Boston manager Alex Cora pinch hit Eduardo Nunez, who blasted a three-run homer into the seats and added insurmountable insurance.

The inherited-runner issue reared its ugly head again in Game 2 when Roberts removed Ryu with two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth for Ryan Madson. It was a pressure-packed situation, but the bullpen must escape situations where it needs just one out to end an inning and preserve a lead if Los Angeles has any plans on winning this series.

Madson did the opposite of that and imploded by allowing a bases-loaded walk to Steve Pearce and the critical two-run single to Martinez. Madson has allowed at least one hit or walk in eight of his nine playoff appearances, while Wood has done the same in six of his seven showings.

The poor showings are adding all the more stress in the middle innings, which is something Los Angeles cannot afford against this Red Sox lineup.

It is unrealistic to expect the starters to go through the best lineup in the league three times. Having bullpen concerns as well outside of Baez and Jansen, who Los Angeles is yet to get to, is a recipe for disaster.

Resurgent Craig Kimbrel Eliminates Remaining Red Sox Concern

It wouldn't be October without plenty of baseball stress for fans, but closer Craig Kimbrel was going overboard for the Red Sox.

The seven-time All-Star is one of the most dominant closers of his generation, but he allowed at least a run in each of his first four playoff appearances against the Yankees and Astros. Suddenly, the typically sure thing was arguably Boston's biggest question mark entering the World Series.

However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne told Cora that Kimbrel was tipping his pitches early in the postseason. The manager informed his staff, and Kimbrel looks like the automatic finisher he has been throughout his career.

He closed the door with a perfect inning in each of the first two World Series games and looked nothing like the version of himself who had Red Sox fans biting their nails to the nub.

Boston is running out of reasons to be worried about this series with a fixed Kimbrel.

What's Next?

The series shifts to Los Angeles for Friday's Game 3. The Dodgers will need to win at least two of the next three at home to push the battle back to Boston.