Brandon Lowe stole the show on Wednesday night as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-4, in Game 2 of the World Series. Lowe hit two home runs in the win and added three RBI while Joey Wendle knocked in the other three runs.
Recap
Tony Gonsolin toed the rubber for Los Angeles to open the game. Lowe’s first home run of the night came with just one out in the first inning, giving Tampa Bay a quick 1-0 lead. Blake Snell pitched for the Rays and sent down all three Dodgers batters in the first. The Rays were unable to add to their lead in the top of the second as Manuel Margot was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice and Willy Adames was caught trying to steal second, but they did chase Gonsolin out of the game with just one out in the inning. Dylan Floro took over on the mound for Los Angeles. The Dodgers were unable to capitalize on their two walks in the bottom half of the inning. The third inning was uneventful, except for Victor Gonzalez replacing Floro.
Dustin May took the mound with two outs in the fourth. He allowed a single to Manuel Margot, following by a two-run double off the bat of Wendle that plated Ji-Man Choi and Margot and extended the Rays’ lead to 3-1. The Rays scored again in the fifth as Lowe homered, this time knocking in Austin Meadows. However, the Dodgers chipped away at their deficit in the bottom of the inning as Chris Taylor hit a two-run home run. Nick Anderson replaced Snell on the mound with two outs in the fifth. Joe Kelly replaced May in the top of the sixth and allowed one run as Wendle’s sacrifice fly scored Choi, giving Tampa Bay a 6-2 lead. Will Smith hit a home run in the Dodgers’ half of the inning, cutting their deficit to 6-3.
Both teams settled down in the seventh. Alex Wood took the mound for the Dodgers and was able to escape a runners-on-first-and-second jam, while Pete Fairbanks entered for Tampa Bay and retired all three batters. Adames doubled in the top of the eighth but did not score. The Dodgers threatened to come back in the bottom of the frame as Corey Seager homered and Justin Turner doubled, but Fairbanks recorded two quick outs. Then, Aaron Loup entered the game and struck out Cody Bellinger.
Jake McGee entered the game for the Dodgers in the ninth and was able to work his way out of a two-on, two-out jam. The Dodgers were down to their final three outs and needed three runs. Loup struck out Edwin Rios and forced pinch-hitter Austin Barnes to fly out. Diego Castillo entered with two outs and struck out Chris Taylor to end the game.
After falling behind in the series, the Rays stormed back in Game 2 by rattling the Dodgers’ pitchers early and attacking them for six runs over the first six innings. The series is now tied, 1-1.
Statistics
The Rays’ offense was busier than usual on Wednesday. Lowe’s two home runs and three RBI were crucial, as were Wendle’s three RBI, but Austin Meadows (one-for-three, one run), Randy Arozarena (one-for-three, two walks), and Manuel Margot (two-for-three, one walk, two runs) also played key roles on offense. Snell threw a solid game, striking out nine batters and allowing just two hits over 4.2 innings. However, despite surrendering just two hits, he allowed two runs in the effort. He also walked four batters, which is a trend that cannot continue. In total, Tampa Bay pitchers struck out 15 batters while allowing four runs on five hits.
Corey Seager (two-for-four, one run, one RBI) was the only Dodgers batter with multiple hits. Chris Taylor hit a two-run homer while Seager and Will Smith also went yard. The No. 7 spot in the lineup (A.J. Pollock and Edwin Rios) went a combined zero-for-four with three strikeouts. In fact, striking out plagued much of the Los Angeles lineup, which struck out 15 times. This hurt the team immensely, especially considering Tampa Bay fanned only seven times. On the mound, Gonsolin allowed one run over 1.1 innings. Gonzalez and Kelly also allowed one run apiece, while Dustin May surrendered three runs on four hits in a shaky outing. Floro, Wood, and McGee were the only Los Angeles pitchers to not allow runs; they combined for three strikeouts, three hits, and two walks over 4.1 scoreless frames.
What’s Next?
Both teams will trot out red-hot hurlers on Friday night. Los Angeles will employ young pitcher Walker Buehler, who has a 1.89 ERA and 29 strikeouts (second-best this postseason) in his four starts since the playoffs began. Meanwhile, the Rays will turn to Charlie Morton, who has a 0.70 ERA and has never lost in the postseason as a member of the Tampa Bay club.
Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at 8:08 p.m. EST
TV: FOX
Stadium: Globe Life Field
Location: Arlington, Tex.
Dodgers’ Pitcher: Walker Buehler | 1-0, 1.89 ERA
Rays’ Pitcher: Charlie Morton | 3-0, 0.57 ERA
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