Behind a fifth consecutive National League West title and the best overall record, the Los Angeles Dodgers took a long-awaited step forward in the postseason by reaching the World Series for the first time in 29 years.
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It came with heartache, as the Houston Astros won the championship at Dodger Stadium in Game 7 of a dramatic series. Houston and Los Angeles were identified by many as the favorites to reach the Fall Classic in 2018.
The Dodgers, despite a slow start and plenty of obstacles along the way, returned to the World Series. Awaiting them were the Boston Red Sox, who ripped off 108 wins in the regular season and dispatched of 100-win clubs New York Yankees and Astros in the playoffs.
The Red Sox dispatched of the Dodgers in five games, marking a second consecutive year they watched an opponent celebrate a title at Dodger Stadium. It came with Clayton Kershaw on the mound for what may have been his final start with the team.
“Disappointed. Yeah, just disappointed,” Kershaw said after allowing three home runs in seven innings. “There’s only one team that can win and we know that but it just hurts worse when you make it all the way and get second place. So having done that two years in a row now, it doesn’t make it any easier.”
While Kershaw was dealing with heartache, he offered the same sentiment Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner shared from a somber clubhouse, in that there is an appreciation for the Dodgers returning to the World Series.
“I’m proud to be part of a group that did get to go to the World Series two years in a row. Proud of that. Proud of what we were able to accomplish this year as a team,” Kershaw said.
Although both came up short, most would consider the 2017 Dodgers a superior club to this year’s roster. That being said, a core group has largely remained unchanged in both seasons.
“It might not be a personnel thing, it might just be a play better thing,” Kershaw said of the Dodgers.
“I think what we were able to do in there this year, all those guys, we had so much depth at every single position. I’m not sure what there is to be done. But I think you have to realize that we are a really good team to get to go to the World Series two years in a row.”
