David Price put his postseason woes behind him, pitching the Boston Red Sox back into another World Series with a 4-1 victory over the defending champion Houston Astros on Thursday night.
Rafael Devers hit a three-run homer as the Red Sox stunned Justin Verlander and the Astros in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series to win the best-of-seven set 4-1, a perfect 43rd birthday present for rookie manager Alex Cora.
After dropping the opener at home, Boston took four straight — including three in a row at Minute Maid Park to improve to 5-0 on the road in these playoffs.
Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and the Red Sox will try to bring Boston its fourth crown in 15 years when they open the World Series on Tuesday night at home in Fenway Park against the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers.
The Red Sox were last in the World Series when they won it all in 2013.
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Los Angeles has a 3-2 lead in the NLCS going into Game 6 on Friday night at Miller Park.
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The Associated Press contributed to this article.
LIVE SCORING UPDATES:
11:45 p.m.: Kimbrel closes it out for the Red Sox to send them to the World Series!
11:32 p.m.: Craig Kimbrel heads out of the bullpen, needing just three outs for the Red Sox to advance to the World Series.
11:27 p.m.: And we're underway in the ninth inning! Roberto Osuna takes the mound once again for the Astros, with Craig Kimbrel warming up in the Red Sox bullpen in a 4-1 game.
10:55 p.m.: Marwin Gonzalez gets the Astros on the board, with the team's fourth hit of the night making it over the fence to trim the deficit to 4-1.
10:17 p.m.: Rafael Devers launches a three-run home run to left field to extend the Red Sox's lead to 4-0 in the sixth inning.
9:07 p.m.: J.D. Martinez launches a home run off Justin Verlander in the third inning to give the Red Sox an early 1-0 lead.
8:46 p.m.: Justin Verlander gets out of a bases-loaded jam, striking out Mookie Betts to get out of the top of the second without any damage done.
8:17 p.m.: Justin Verlander gets the Astros started on the right foot, giving up just a walk in an otherwise spotless top of the first.