Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Tampa Bay Rays to win World Series for first title since 1988
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won their first World Series since 1988, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in game six to end the pandemic-shortened MLB season.
Mookie Betts streaked home with the go-ahead run and later homered for good measure in the decisive victory, taking advantage of a hotly debated Tampa Bay move to take out their starting pitcher in the sixth inning.
The Dodgers posted the best record in the majors during this pandemic-shortened season, then rallied in the final game to claim a most elusive crown.
Tampa Bay starter Blake Snell struck out nine and seemed to be in complete control with a 1-0 lead when manager Kevin Cash pulled him with one out and a runner on first in the sixth inning. The Dodgers pounced quickly, and Betts soon dashed home from third base on Corey Seager's infield grounder for a 2-1 edge.
Betts' 3.2-second sprint was just enough to beat the throw by first baseman Ji-Man Choi. He added a solo home run in the eighth.
"I'm not exactly sure why," Betts said when asked about the Rays' move to take Snell out of the game. "I'm not going to ask any questions. He was pitching a great game."
The Dodgers had played 5014 regular-season games and were in their 114th post-season game since Orel Hershiser struck out Oakland's Tony Phillips for the final out of the World Series in 1988, the same year veteran lefty pitcher Clayton Kershaw – the three-time national league Cy Young Award winner who won games one and five of this Series – was born in nearby Dallas.
Kershaw was warming in the bullpen when Julio Urias struck out Willy Adames to end it and ran alongside teammates to celebrate in the infield, many players and coaches still wearing face masks at the end of a season played out amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Los Angeles had come up short in the World Series twice in the previous three years. Manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers lost the World Series in 2017 and 2018 before winning this title at a neutral site, Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Betts was on the other side in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox, who before this season traded the right-field star to the Dodgers.
Randy Arozarena, the powerful Tampa Bay rookie, extended his post-season record with his 10th homer in the first inning off rookie right-hander Tony Gonsolin, the first of seven Dodgers pitchers. The Rays never got another runner past second base as LA's bullpen gave reliever-reliant Tampa Bay a taste of their own medicine.
Roberts did what his seven predecessors – including Joe Torre and Don Mattingly – failed to do: bring a championship to long-starved Dodgers fans. He joins Hall of Famers Walter Alston and Tom Lasorda as the only managers to do so.
An emotional Roberts shared hugs with his players after the final out.
He's taken the Dodgers to the playoffs in each of his five seasons. But they had never reached their ultimate goal and Roberts endured his share of criticism along the way.
Seager was named MVP of the Series, batting .400 with two homers, five RBIs and six walks against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was also MVP of the national league championship series.
The previous MVP of both a league championship series and the World Series in the same year was San Francisco pitcher Madison Bumgarner in 2014. Only eight players have done it – all national leaguers.
AP
