Game 3 of the World Series was definitely not Walker Buehler‘s “Day Off“, as he shined for the Dodgers and they beat the Rays 6-2. The Dodger offense also came up big; all but one starter reached base in the victory that gave Los Angeles a 2-1 series advantage.
Recap
Charlie Morton toed the slab for the Rays to start the game and got two quick outs. Justin Turner then came up and smashed a home run to left field to give the Dodgers the early 1-0 lead.
Raise the roof, JT. pic.twitter.com/BELKAh78Ma
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 24, 2020
Buehler retired the side in the bottom of the inning, two of them coming via strikeout. Both teams were set down in order in the second, with Buehler striking out two more. Morton struck out the first two batters he faced in the third before plunking Corey Seager. The hit batsman would come back to get him with Turner coming up next. He doubled, and Max Muncy lined one up the middle to score both Seager and Turner. The Dodgers’ third baseman flashed some leather as well in the bottom of the inning with a beautiful pick before starting a double play.
Justin Turner snags it to get the double play. #Dodgers #LATogether #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/MGDW5azZ8R
— Justin Groc (@jgroc) October 24, 2020
Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson both singled in the fourth to set the Dodgers up at first and third. The Dodgers put on a safety squeeze, as Austin Barnes laid down a perfect bunt to score Bellinger. It was only the third sacrifice of the entire postseason as the Dodgers brought some small ball back. Mookie Betts singled to score Pederson and put Los Angeles up 5-0. Buehler set down the order in the fourth, still having not allowed a hit. Morton got the hook in the fifth after walking Muncy with one out. John Curtiss came on and retired the next two batters.
Buehler’s no-hit bid ended in the fifth as he gave up a one out double to Manuel Margot. The shutout also ended after Willy Adames doubled to score Margot. Los Angeles would get that run right back when Austin Barnes launched a solo homer to center field. Buehler punched out the side in the sixth to end the night with 10 strikeouts. Ryan Sherriff replaced Curtiss in the seventh and got around a walk to avoid any trouble.
Blake Treinen was the first Dodger to come out of the bullpen and he set down the side, striking out two Rays. Ryan Thompson came on for Tampa Bay in the eighth and worked a clean inning to keep the score 6-1. Brusdar Graterol came in and retired the side in the bottom half. Shane McClanahan set the Dodgers down after a Seager single to give the Rays a chance to come back in the bottom of the ninth. Kenley Jansen, pitching for the first time this series, got two quick outs. Then Randy Arozarena (who had been shut down by Los Angeles thus far) hit a homer to left. The home run was all for naught, however, as Jansen induced a lineout to end the game. The Dodgers now lead the series 2-1.
Statistics
Three Dodger hitters had two hits each: Betts, Turner, and Muncy. Muncy and Barnes came up big with two RBI a piece, while Betts and Turner each had one. Buehler surrendered just three hits and a walk with the ten knockout punches over his six innings. The three pitchers out of the bullpen combined to give up just one hit, which was Arozarena’s homer in the ninth. Tampa Bay’s bats were awfully quiet after breaking out in Game 2. The bullpen came up big, holding the Dodgers to just one additional run after Morton was out. Curtiss, Sheriff, Thompson, and McClanahan combined for 4.2 innings and allowed three hits, striking out four.
Walked all over ’em. pic.twitter.com/06a02WM26M
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 24, 2020
What’s Next?
Both teams have southpaws going in Game 4. Julio Urias, who has been on fire this postseason, gets the ball for the Dodgers. He has a 0.56 ERA and 16 strikeouts in four wins this postseason. Ryan Yarbrough will start for the Rays, but he will likely be used as the opener.
Date: Friday, Oct. 24, 2020 at 8:08 p.m. EST
TV: FOX
Stadium: Globe Life Field
Location: Arlington, Tex.
Dodgers Pitcher: Julio Urias | 4-0, 0.56 ERA
Rays Pitcher: Ryan Yarbrough | 1-0, 3.38 ERA
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