BOSTON (AP) _ The Boston Red Sox have opened the World Series by thumping Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen.
Andrew Benintendi was 4-for-5 with an RBI single and three runs scored as the Red Sox whipped the Dodgers, 8-4. Pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunez put Boston in control with a three-run blast off Alex Wood in the seventh.
J.D. Martinez added an RBI single and a run-scoring double to the victory, which leaves the Red Sox 13-2 in World Series games since dropping Game 7 of the 1986 Fall Classic. Boston is seeking its fourth championship in 15 seasons.
Kershaw took the loss after being charged with five runs and seven hits over four-plus innings. His trouble began when Benintendi and Martinez hit RBI singles in the bottom of the first.
Red Sox ace Chris Sale also retired just 12 batters, yielding three runs and five hits while striking out seven.
Matt Barnes worked a scoreless fifth to pick up the win.
Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp homered in his first World Series at-bat, going deep off Sale in the second inning.
Game 2 is slated for Wednesday night at Fenway Park. David Price is Boston’s scheduled starter against Hyun-Jin Ryu.