Event of the Day: Game 1 of the World Series

Our event of the day is Game 1 of the 2018 World Series. The Boston Red Sox host the Los Angeles Dodgers at Fenway Park. The Red Sox play in their first World Series since 2013 and come into the game as slight favourites. The Dodgers, who were the runners-up in last year’s World Series, seek to win their first World Series since 1988. The last time these teams faced one another in the World Series was 1916, when Babe Ruth was still pitching for the Red Sox. A highly anticipated matchup, this is sure to be an unforgettable start to a historic World Series. The Red Sox entered the postseason with the best record in baseball, winning 108 games to achieve their best record since 1946. Their first postseason test came against their biggest rivals, the New York Yankees. Though the Yankees were a 100-win team, and had set a regular season home run record, they were no match for the Red Sox. Boston scored 27 runs across four games, including a 16-1 rout at Yankee Stadium in Game 3. The Yankees never posed much of a threat and the Red Sox comfortably moved onto the American League Conference Series to face the defending World Series Champions, the Houston Astros. The Astros dominated in Game 1, winning 7-2.
 
However, the Red Sox rallied and took the next four games of the series to defeat the Astros 4-1. It was no runaway victory for the Red Sox as the Astros managed to keep most games close, exploiting a shaky postseason by Boston closer, Craig Kimbrel, in particular. Meanwhile, after ending the regular season tied for first place in the National League West, the LA Dodgers began their postseason with a tiebreaker game against the Colorado Rockies. They won the game 5-2 and so moved on to face the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series as the number 2 seed in the NL. The Braves put up little resistance against a determined Dodgers team and LA took the series 3-1. The Milwaukee Brewers proved to be much more formidable as the Dodgers and Brewers met in the National League Conference Series. The series lead switched back and forth with neither team showing any particular dominance. However, the Dodgers were triumphant and took Game 7, 5-1. A two-run home run from Cody Bellinger and a three-run home run from Yasiel Puig gave LA their second consecutive chance to win a World Series. It should be a thrilling first game of the World Series tonight.
 
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the UEFA Champions League, where Manchester United play Juventus at Old Trafford. Juventus sit at the top of Group H, while Manchester United sit in second. Juventus are unbeaten in the Champions League, having beaten both Valencia and Young Boys. However, they come into the match having ended their perfect domestic run with a 1-1 draw against Genoa. Manager Massimiliano Allegri has blamed the draw on a preoccupation with the upcoming game against Manchester United. United took part in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in their last game. Elsewhere, in the NBA, the undefeated Denver Nuggets look to continue their perfect season as they host the Sacramento Kings at the Pepsi Center. In International Cricket, England and Sri Lanka play their 5th and final ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
 
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
 
 
Photos by MLB; Dodgers

 

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