Recap: Dodgers vs. Rays – 2020 World Series Recap

www.franchisesportsmedia.com

Los Angeles Dodgers (14-5)  |  Tampa Bay Rays (11-7)

 

“Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good (afternoon/evening) to you, wherever you may be.”  – Vin Scully

 

 

The Fall Classic is actually happening after this crazy year and wild 2020 MLB season, the likes of which we’ve never seen before. Fans will get to see a champion crowned, after all, barring any more 2020 curveballs. With many games postponed and some teams missing weeks, the MLB and its players got to the finish line, and the last two standing are the Dodgers and the Rays.

This is the third time in four years LA represents the National League in the World Series. Both teams will play this time in Arlington, Texas, at the new Globe life Field on neutral ground. The Format will return to 2-3-2 with the Dodgers having games 1,2 as the home team and games 6 and 7 if necessary, which will be very important if this series does go seven games.

With limited fans in attendance and two great teams, no matter who wins, it should be an entertaining series nonetheless.

 

 

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Tampa Bay Rays – World Series 2020 Game-by-Game Recaps

 

Game 6 – Win – 3 -1 – WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!

 

Game 6 of the World Series started at a dismal pace. Watching Blake Snell and Randy Arozarena have their way with the Dodgers for six innings was not enjoyable. In the six-inning, Kevin Cash may have made one of his career’s biggest mistakes by pulling Blake Snell while he was absolutely dealing. The pitcher had the Dodgers number throughout the game, and the Dodgers had no answer. It was a surprising move to everyone, including Rays pitcher. Frustrated, he reluctantly exited the game, only to have his replacement allow a few hits and two runs.

Mookie Betts proved again why he’s not only in the conversation but IS the best player in baseball. He made a great read on a dribbler hit to first and scored from third on a play only he could have made. This completely changed the way the Dodgers played from that point on, and the eagerness to how close they now are to a title may have fueled that fire. Julio Urias did the job and kept the score at a run. Then the Dodgers superstar- Mookie Betts took a curveball deep to left to give them some cushion.

 

With only three outs between the Dodgers and a championship, Julio Urias got to close the game out and secure the Dodgers first World Series championship since 1988. He eased through the ninth inning and delivered the final out by striking out the last batter looking and impressively giving the Dodgers their championship. Clayton Kershaw looked the happiest of all the Dodgers players to win it as now no one can ever say he doesn’t have the ring to match the phenomenal regular-season resume.

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a great and crazy 2020 season.”

 

In a year that has been so improbable, The impossible has happened”- Vin Scully

 

Next Game – Opening Day, RING DAY at Dodgers Stadium in 2021! Enjoy Dodgers Nation!

 

Game 5 – Win – 4 – 2

 

For Game 5 of the World Series, Clayton Kershaw faced Tyler Glasnow in a rematch of Game 1. The Dodgers wanted revenge for their own failures in the previous game, which they should have won. In the first few innings, the Dodgers started on the road to redemption, scoring two runs on Glasnow. Once again, Los Angeles did it in all fashions, stealing, walking, and even the long ball. The energy that the Dodgers brought to the game was high, and it showed. After hitting a solo blast, Joc Pederson said, “They Don’t want that smoke” to his teammates while reentering the dugout. Giving the impression the team had a short memory from the previous game.

Kershaw had a decent game, only giving up 2 runs, with his most impressive play was a throw to home in the middle of his wind up on a stealing Manuel Margot from third. This was a real gamble of a play to steal home in the World Series, and the Rays could not Cash out. Kershaw looked like he was fading slowly as the game progressed and then almost struck out the side in the next inning. He had this rejuvenation after getting more run support with the Max Muncy bomb and BAT-DROP as he stood and admired his blast. The game was 4-2 in the 6th inning and seemed it had the promise of being as good of a game as the last, up until those last few plays, obviously.

 

Then Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts had a long mound visit with the team before relieving a very reluctant Kershaw of his duties. The team and Kershaw appeared to lobby for their pitcher, but it didn’t work, and Dodgers fans disliked that he was removed for Dustin May. May did the job by striking out his batter and looked good doing it with a few 101mph fastballs. Hopefully, this turns around his postseason woes after his electric outing sitting down almost all his batters he faced.

Clayton Kershaw now holds the MLB Postseason strikeout record with 207.

Blake Treinen got his opportunity to close a World Series game. Kenley Jansen would not be used in 4 straight games, so Treinen would get the call. With a runner on, the two outs left for Treinen, these would be the most important of his career to date. With the final pitch, Treinen got the strikeout, and an eruption of applause came from the limited fans. The Dodgers now hold a one-game lead and can recreate ’88 with one more win.

GO DODGERS!!

 

Game 6 Possible Starters

Dodgers– Tony Gonsolin vs. Rays– Blake Snell – 10/27 – 5:08 pm PT – FOX

 

 

Game 4 – Loss – 8-7

 

The Rays pulled off one of the wildest finishes in World Series history, stunning the Dodgers, 8-7, and evening the World Series at 2-games apiece.

 

With the Rays down to their last strike, Brett Phillips hit a single to tie the game, but when center fielder Chris Taylor had trouble picking it up, Randy Arozarena, who started on first, was sent from third. But on his way to the plate, Arozarena fell down and started to move back towards third base. Max Muncy’s throw caromed off the glove off catcher Will Smith, and as the ball rolled to the backstop, Arozarena changed directions and dove home, scoring the winning run and slapping his palm on home plate.

This is one attempt to describe it: On a 1-2 cutter from Jansen, Phillips dropped a soft single into right-center, where Taylor went to scoop it up. But Taylor booted the ball. He had no chance to get the lead runner anyway, but now Arozarena rounded third and dashed for home, only to stumble and fall halfway there.

The Dodgers took a 7-6 lead when Taylor led off with a double off the center-field field wall. And once again, with two outs and two strikes, Seager came through with a bloop single to left field off Anderson. It was only the fourth time in World Series history that teammates had at least four hits in a game.

With the series now even, the Rays head into Game 5 on Sunday and face Clayton Kershaw.

 

Game 5 Possible Starters

Dodgers- Clayton Kershaw / Rays- Tyler Glasnow – 10/25 – 5:08 pm PT – Fox

 

 

Game 3 – Win – 6-2

 

Game 3 was the Walker Buehler show. He had a no-hitter for four and 1/3 innings. Couple that with a five-run lead through the fourth inning, the Dodgers cruised to a 6-2 victory. Justin Turner hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, and if it weren’t for the dominance of Buehler, would be talked about more. Turner also had a double to go along with his home run on his way to a 2-5 night. He also flashed the leather making a couple of spectacular plays to kill the Rays chances. Turner is now the leader or is tied for every Dodgers postseason offensive all-time record.

But the star of the night was Buehler. He was dominant from the first pitch and continued his postseason mastery. Opponents are hitting .179 off of him. His fastball was touching the upper 90’s with bite, and his off-speed pitches had movement. When he is on like that, he is unhittable and was the case Friday night. It wasn’t until the fifth inning when Buehler was touched up by the Rays, starting with their first hit by Manny Margot, who came around to score after Wilie Adames doubled him in for the Rays first run of the game.

The Dodgers offense got going early and hit Charlie Morton, and the Rays bullpen hard. Mookie Betts went 2-5 with a stolen base and an RBI, Max Muncy was 2-4 with 2 RBI’s, and Austin Barnes hit a solo home run. The Dodgers bullpen shut the Rays down for the rest of the game, aside from Kenley Jansen allowing a 2-out solo home run to Randy Arozarena to make the final score 6-2.

It was a complete team effort in Game 3 and the Dodgers a commanding 2-1 series lead with Game 4 taking place Saturday at 5:00 pm. Julio Urias will start for the Dodgers, and the Rays have yet to name their starting pitcher.

 

Game 4 Possible Starters

Dodgers- Julio Urias (3-0) / Rays- TBD – 10/24 – 5:08 pm PT – Fox

 

 

Game 2 – Loss- 6-4

 

The Dodgers and Rays went back to battle for Game 2 of the Fall Classic. Tony Gonsolin faced off against Blake Snell in the second game. Both teams were eager to be the first one to put runs on the board. The Dodgers offense showed how unstoppable they could be against Glasnow last game, and now the offense will face the former CY Young winner in Snell. Snell is a hard-throwing lefty with some great breaking pitches. The lefty-heavy Dodger offense would have a tough task in Snell and had hoped to get him out of the game early and wear down the Rays bullpen.

Tony Gonsolin had help in the first with two pop-up outs and a strikeout, but the dagger would be a fastball he missed middle-in that Brandon Lowe took 410 ft to left-center. Gonsolin would only throw an inning and a third, leaving a man on third, before skipper Dave Roberts would see enough and go to Dylan Floro. The play of the inning was a perfect throw by Will Smith on a steal attempt and a better tag by Corey Seager to end the second. The Dodgers walked off the field before the bang-bang play was even reviewed.

 

Mookie Betts in the last game, became only the second player in World Series history to have a walk and Multiple stolen bases in an inning joining the Great Babe Ruth.

 

The Dodgers did their best imitation of the Rays bullpen games in this one, using three pitchers by the third. Victor Gonzalez got in some work early. Then the bullpen for the Dodgers was unloaded to finish it off. The game saw the Ray’s score a few runs on LA. The score was 3-0 when Dustin May gave up a two-run blast to Lowe for his second homer of the game. The 5-0 lead had Dodgers fans hoping for a rally, and LA would try to deliver. They had a two-out walk on Snell, a couple of pitches later a 398 ft opposite-field blast by Chris Taylor make it a 5-2 game. The Dodgers found life and rallied with two outs, forcing Tampa’s manager to pull his starter with guys on base.

Will Smith in the bottom of the sixth hit a low pitch halfway back to Bel Air. This kept the Dodgers at a three-run deficit after the Rays‘ sac fly that made it 6-3 in the top of the inning. The Dodgers lineup would not have the same success as the last game, but they kept themselves in play to possibly earn a win. The hardest part about games like this is every run for or against determines how Roberts would manage the pen. The last thing he’s looking to do is use high leverage guys in a game that becomes out of reach. Corey Seager changed the game with a solo shot, but it would not be enough as the Dodgers fell to the Rays in game 2, 6-4.

 

Game 3 Possible Starters

Dodgers- Walker Buehler (RHP) / Rays- Charlie Morton (RHP) – 10/23 – 5:08 pm PT – Fox

 

 

Game 1 – Win – 8 – 3

 

 

The Dodgers started their ace, Clayton Kershaw, in Game 1 of the World Series for the fifth time in his career. His matchup was against the tall righty Tyler Glasnow. The young pitcher for Tampa can touch 100 and has a curveball to match. This is nothing new for the Dodgers hitters, but this pitcher’s height makes it a bit more challenging for any lineup.

 

It was a real pitchers duel early in Game 1.  The game was tranquil through four innings until the sound the crack of Cody Bellinger’s bat connecting with the ball as it screamed towards and over the right-centerfield wall to make it a 2-0 Dodgers. The new team-approved celebration, a foot tap, followed the score. The reason being, Bellinger dislocated his shoulder while celebrating his last home run to send them to the World Series. 

In a funny moment just before the home run, Chris Taylor stole second base and had everyone in America thinking they were getting a free taco until it was unfortunately changed to a wild pitch. The inning would only produce the two runs for LA and not the tacos.

Clayton Kershaw recorded his seventh strikeout in the fifth. He passed John Smoltz with his 200th career postseason strikeout. He was only able to celebrate it for a second before letting up a home run on a slider to Kevin Kiermaier. 

 

Until Tuesday night, the last time 3 bases were stolen in an inning in the World Series was in 1912, tied for the most ever.

 

Dodgers‘ right Fielder Mookie Betts got on base with a walk in the fifth and officially stole a base and gave everyone in America their tacos back; more importantly, he got into scoring position with no outs. I could hear World Champion Los Angeles Lakers’ star Lebron James watching at home with his most recent trophy while yelling “TAAACCCOOOOO TUESDAY” in approval. Then Betts and Seager, who also got on with a walk, recorded a successful double steal to set up a fielder’s choice play that scored the Dodgers’ third run. Betts showed why he can still be an offensive threat without touching the ball, and that’s part of what makes him so special.

 

With the big 5 run inning, the Dodgers and Betts forced Rays skipper Kevin Cash to take Glasnow out of the game. Armed with a good lead, the Dodgers would have to deal with Tampa’s stout bullpen.

The Dodgers showed after the fourth why they should be in the Fall Classic, as they played the game in every aspect extremely well. That’s what separates the teams that go home in October with a Championship and the field.

Mookie Betts hit a bomb to right field on the first pitch in the sixth inning to give Kershaw some more cushion and himself his first home run in over a month. Turner and Muncy went back to back, hitting doubles, and the Dodger offensive juggernaut came alive. With this kind of a lead, there was no reason to leave Kershaw in, especially since it was the sixth, and he already would be eligible for the win.

Victor Gonzalez came in relief and made an amazing play on a ball lasered back to his glove that he caught and turned and threw to KiKi Hernandez for the double play. Everyone on the field looked shocked as he should have never been able to catch that. The Dodgers’ pen gave up 2 runs through the rest of the game, and Cody Bellinger saved another run by grabbing a ball that would have left the park for what feels like a once-a-game occurrence this postseason for the Dodgers’ outfielders.

The Dodgers now command a one-game lead and can keep that energy going into game 2. Clayton Kershaw had his statement World Series win going six innings while allowing two hits and one run with eight strikeouts. If the other pitchers can do the same, Kershaw and the Dodgers will go back to LA with some hardware.

 

 

Scheduled to pitch in Game 2

Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin vs. Rays: Blake Snell – Wednesday 10/21 – 5:08 pm PT – Fox

 

Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays        Dodgers vs Rays            World Series      World Series      World Series      World Series      World Series      World Series      World Series      World Series     

 

Rich Decristan

Twitter: Richielupo11

Follow The Franchise on social media

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube