2018 World Series Championship
The 2018 Boston Red Sox: 108 wins, a franchise record, and a World Series championship.
The 2018 Boston Red Sox season was the 118th season in the team's history, and their 107th season at Fenway Park. Under first year manager Alex Cora, the team finished with a 108–54 record, winning the American League East division title for the third consecutive season, and finished eight games ahead of the second-place New York Yankees. The Red Sox were the first MLB team to post 100 wins during the 2018 season, reaching that milestone for the first time since 1946; they were also the first team to clinch a berth in the 2018 postseason. The team set a new franchise record for wins in a season by surpassing the prior mark of 105 that had been set in 1912; they also won the most games by any MLB team since the 2001 Seattle Mariners won 116. Mookie Betts finished the season with the Major League batting title, hitting .346, while J. D. Martinez finished second in the majors with .330. Betts also won a Gold Glove and the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award. Closer Craig Kimbrel became the fastest player in history to reach 300 career saves, finishing the season with 333. The Red Sox entered the postseason as the top seed in the American League, and defeated the Yankees in four games in the Division Series. They then defeated the defending champion Houston Astros in five games in the Championship Series, advancing to the World Series where they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, securing their ninth World Series championship overall and their fourth since breaking the "Curse of the Bambino" in 2004. The team was later accused of electronic sign stealing. An investigation into the allegation stated that the sign stealing was "limited in scope and impact," but nonetheless resulted in the suspension of a team video replay operator and the loss of a second-round draft pick in the 2020 draft for the organization. Regardless, the team has been considered the best MLB team of the 2010s, one of the best Red Sox teams ever, and one of the best baseball teams since the 1998 New York Yankees.
- Manager
- Alex Cora
- World Series Result
- Defeated Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1)
- Regular Season Record
- 108 Wins - 54 Losses
- ALCS Opponent
- Houston Astros
- CLINCHING GAME
- Game 5 of the World Series
Lore & Background
The 2018 Red Sox set a franchise record with 108 wins, surpassing the 105-win mark set by the 1912 team. Brock Holt hit for the cycle in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees, the first player ever to do so in an MLB postseason game. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees in the ALDS, the Astros in the ALCS, and the Dodgers in the World Series.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Dodger Stadium hung heavy as the ninth inning of Game 5 unfolded. While the home crowd roared against the visiting heroes, the Red Sox dugout remained eerily calm. Steve Pearce, battered from a long series and playing through injury, stepped into the box with two outs and runners on base. He didn't just swing; he connected with a thunderous crack that echoed through the night, sending the ball sailing into the stands. The sea of red-clad fans in Los Angeles erupted, their voices joining the roar to drown out the home crowd. It wasn't just a win; it was the final period on a season written in gold, cementing another chapter in Red Sox lore.
Reader's Guide
The 2018 season began on March 29 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Key offseason moves included hiring Alex Cora as manager, re-signing Mitch Moreland and Eduardo Núñez, and signing J. D. Martinez. The team's 108 wins set a new franchise record.
Did You Know?
- Brock Holt hit for the cycle in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees, the first player ever to do so in an MLB postseason game.
- The 108-win season set a new franchise record, surpassing the 1912 team's 105 wins.
- Mookie Betts won the Major League batting title (.346) and the MVP Award.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Boston Red Sox universe
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