Arlington, Tx – 32 years of agony gave way to a celebration in Arlington and California. Urias’s last strikeout of the game could not have been sweeter for the Dodgers, who lost the 2017 World Series and later discovered the Astros were part of a cheating scandal, including sign stealing and more.
Who imagined the Dodgers would play for all the marbles in Texas? A place that brought back faulty memories.
Yet the moment of milk and honey arrived in time to spread joy and erased any negative past issues, as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2020 World Series, 3-1 in-game six on Tuesday night in the strangest baseball season ever witnessed at Globe Life Field.
The Dodgers took a 4-2 advantage in the series against the Rays to bring Los Angeles its second title in less than three weeks as the Lakers defeated the Heat in game six to win the NBA Championship.
Finally, with one out in the ninth inning, Dodgers’ reliever Julio Urias, who pitched the final two 1/3 innings, got behind in the count, 3-2, struck out Mike Brosseau standing, and struck-out Willy Adames on three pitches to send the Dodgers into a celebration.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, series MVP Corey Seager’s RBI fielder’s choice plated Mookie Betts to give the Dodgers its first lead of the game, 2-1. One it would hold for its first title since 1988. Right before, reliever Nick Anderson’s wild pitch got past catcher Mike Zunino, allowing Betts to take third while Austin Barnes tied the game, 1-1.
With one out, the inning continued as Justin Turner launched what looked like a home run when the ball left the bat. Instead, it turned into a long out to rising star Randy Arozarena at the wall in left field before Tampa Bay’s second reliever Aaron Loup got Max Muncy on a ground out to second, closing the inning.
It all started when Blake Snell recorded the first out of the inning after Pollock flew out to center. But catcher Barnes singled to center field, which ended Snell’s magnificent day, throwing 73 pitches over five and 1/3 innings, one earned run, two hits, and nine strikeouts.
The frustrated Snell gave way to reliever Nick Anderson as manager Kevin Cash stayed with the system he incorporated. His words, “these guys need short memories and thick skin because this is the way we do it,” which may have cost the Rays a World Series title.
Had Snell not been lifted, many wondered, would the series have gone seven games. After all, Los Angeles had not figured him out all evening.
Betts day concluded going 2-of-4, a home run, and scored two of the Dodgers three runs.
Urias’s dominating performance closed out the top of the eighth by fanning Lowe.
Betts drilled a shot to left-center off Fairbanks in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Los Angeles a cushioned run, 3-1.
In the top of the first inning, Arozarena, the second batter to face Tony Gonsolin, hit his record leading tenth postseason home run to put the Rays up 1-0. However, Gonsolin held the Rays at bay until his offense supported.
The Rays held that lead until Snell left the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.