One day after celebrating the 22nd anniversary of the 2004 World Series clinching game, the Boston Red Sox celebrate another World Series anniversary. On Oct. 28, 2018, the Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 5 to win their fourth World Series title in 14 years. 

The Red Sox offense got on the board early when World Series MVP Steve Pearce drove a two-run home run off future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw in the top of the first. With Boston leading 2-1 in the top of the sixth, 2018 American League Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts added a solo home run off Kershaw to make it 3-1. The Red Sox continued to add on against one of the greatest pitchers of all time in the top of the seventh when designated hitter J.D. Martinez hit the third home run of the game off Kershaw, a solo shot to make it 4-1. Finally, Pearce made one final statement for his World Series MVP case, launching his second home run of the game, this time off reliever Pedro Báez, in the top of the eighth, to extend the lead to 5-1. 

Veteran left-hander David Price got the start for the Red Sox in what felt like a final exorcism of the postseason demons that had haunted him for most of his career. Price tossed seven innings, allowing only one earned run on three hits and striking out five in the win. After walking the leadoff man in the eighth inning, the then-32-year-old handed things off to right-handed flame thrower Joe Kelly, who struck out the side to strand the runner at first and out the Red Sox on the brink. In the ninth inning, manager Alex Cora turned to the man who started the Red Sox historic season, ace Chris Sale, who struck out the side, forcing Red Sox villain Manny Machado to his knee as he flailed at a slider well outside the zone, while the celebrations began. 

The World Series was simply a continuation of what was a dominant regular season and postseason run for Boston. After winning a franchise-record-setting 108 regular-season games, the Red Sox lost only three postseason games, one in each round, en route to the fourth World Series title since 2004. 

The lethal Red Sox lineup, featuring Betts, Martinez, Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and Andrew Benintendi, was kept in check by the Dodgers pitching staff. Boston hitters slashed just .222/.303/.386/.690 in the series. However, the Dodgers staff faced an even more dominant Boston lineup, which held the Los Angeles offense to .180/.249/.302/.550. 

Perhaps the most memorable game of the series was the one the Red Sox lost. The Dodgers won the 18-inning Game 3 marathon 3-2 on a walk-off solo home run by Max Muncy. The 7-hour, 20-minute game is the longest in World Series history by duration and is tied for the longest game by innings played with 2025’s Game 3. 

Pearce’s 4-for-12 performance, with three home runs and eight RBI in the series, earned him MVP honors. However, Price also had a strong case for the award, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out 10 over 13.2 innings across three appearances (2 starts). 

On this date in 2018, the Boston Red Sox became 2018 World Series champions.