Boston Red Sox Win 2018 World Series with 5-1 Victory in Game 5

The Boston Red Sox are your 2018 World Series champions.

The Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1, in Game 5 at Dodger Stadium.

Third baseman Steve Pearce was named World Series MVP after going 4 for 12 with three home runs and eight RBI. Pearce hit two homers in Sunday's game beginning with a 2-run shot in the first inning to score Andrew Benintendi and a solo shot in the eighth to extend the Boston's lead to 5-1.

Red Sox starter David Price shed the perception of his past postseason struggles by earning his second World Series win on Sunday. Price recorded five strikeouts while allowing three hits and one earned run during 7.0 innings pitched.

The former Cy Young winner entered Sunday's game with a 4-9 record and a 4.87 ERA in 22 postseason starts.

Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw -- who had similar postseason struggles of his own -- was less fortunate. Kershaw allowed seven hits and four earned runs during 7.0 innings pitched.

Boston's Mookie Betts and JD Martinez each added solo homers of their own in the sixth and seventh inning respectively.

Martinez was dealing with a sore right ankle that occured while slipping on second base while running out a double during Game 1 of the series, according to MassLive.com. Prior to Sunday, the AL MVP candidate went 1-for-11 with two walks and five strikeouts through his first four games.

"I don't know," Martinez said prior to Game 5. "I don't think it is. I think I've created a little bit of bad habits the last couple of days because I was kind of babying it. But I think it's feeling better now. It's starting to feel better."

Boston ace Chris Sale recorded the game's final three outs in relief work during the bottom of the ninth inning.

Boston has now won nine total World Series championships including its fourth since breaking an 86-year drought in 2004.

The Red Sox finished the 2018 regular season with 108 wins, the most in baseball and an eight-game lead over the rival New York Yankees in the AL East division standings.

Boston is in its first season under manager Alex Cora, who worked as a coach for the Houston Astros during their World Series run last season. Cora also won a World Series an infielder for the Red Sox in 2007.

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