World Series: Dodgers Crush the Rays in Game 1 Behind a Merciless Offense Image Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts after the Dodgers’ 8-3 win in Game 1. Credit... Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images By Behind the left arm of Clayton Kershaw and a potent offense led by Mookie Betts, the Los Angeles Dodgers toppled the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-3, in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. Kershaw delivered one of the best World Series performances of his career, striking out eight and allowing just one run over six innings. Using sharp command and a healthy dose of biting sliders, Kershaw at one point retired 13 straight Rays before he coughed up a solo home run to Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier in the fifth inning. It was his lone blemish. The game had the makings of a pitchers’ duel between the Rays’ hard-throwing starter, Tyler Glasnow, 27, and Kershaw, 32. But Glasnow’s command sputtered — he walked six over four and one-third innings — and the Dodgers’ offense, which led the major leagues in runs during the regular season, was too much to hold down. Despite their large disparity in payroll, the Dodgers and Rays are similar in that they both feature deep rosters, talented pitching staffs and stout defense. The biggest difference between them, though, was painfully obvious on Tuesday: hitting. Betts led the way with two stolen bases, two runs scored and two hits, including a home run. Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers’ hero in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, smashed a two-run blast off Glasnow in the fourth inning. The Dodgers piled on four more runs an inning later, not with powerful swings, but with strong at-bats and zippy base running. Betts drew a walk off Glasnow, then flashed his speed as he stole second base. He then nabbed third base — as part of a double steal with Corey Seager, who also walked — and scored when he beat first baseman Yandy Diaz’s thrown home on a fielder’s choice. Singles by Will Smith, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez pushed the Dodgers’ lead to 6-1. Betts put the game further out of reach with a solo blast, his first of the postseason, in the sixth inning. With a large lead, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts lifted Kershaw and turned the game over to his bullpen. The Rays threatened with a pair of runs late in the game, but it was simply too much for their offense to overcome. The teams return to action on Wednesday, with Blake Snell scheduled to start for the Rays and the Dodgers expected to feature a bullpen game. Here’s how the Dodgers won Game 1:

Oct. 20, 2020, 11:39 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 11:39 p.m. ET By Ninth Inning: The Dodgers close it out. Joe Kelly finished things off for the Dodgers. Credit... Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Another game, another standout defensive play by a Dodgers outfielder. Cody Bellinger made a nifty catch in center field, racing back and then jumping in front of the wall to rob Austin Meadows of an extra-base hit. To finish off the Rays, Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly tossed a 1-2-3 inning on just 10 pitches to complete the 8-3 victory.

9th inning Dodgers 8, Rays 3 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 11:33 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 11:33 p.m. ET By Eighth Inning: There’s no stopping Mookie Betts. Mooke Betts drove in a run with a single in the eighth. Credit... Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports, via Reuters Boston Red Sox fans, look away again: Mookie Betts has done it all again for the Dodgers in a playoff game. He has manufactured a run with his legs (two stolen bases and a run in fifth inning), blasted a home run (in the sixth inning) and added a single (in the eighth inning). During the National League Championship Series, he helped save the Dodgers with his glove, too. The Rays could do little in the eighth, and the Dodgers are three outs away from a 1-0 lead in the series.

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8th inning Dodgers 8, Rays 3 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 11:05 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 11:05 p.m. ET By Seventh Inning: The Dodgers escape some danger after Kershaw leaves. Kevin Kiermaier drove in a run with a single. Credit... Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press The Rays threatened in the seventh inning with Clayton Kershaw out of the game. With an 8-1 lead, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts lifted Kershaw after 78 pitches and six innings. Facing Dodgers reliever Victor Gonzalez, Mike Brosseau and Kevin Kiermaier each laced run-scoring singles to trim the Rays’ deficit to 8-3. This forced Roberts to get Pedro Baez up in the bullpen — a small victory for the Rays as the Dodgers likely hoped to avoid using their best relief arms with such a large lead. Gonzalez escaped the jam when he caught Mike Zunino’s comeback liner and turned an inning-ending double play. Josh Fleming then retired three Dodgers in a row, which, believe it or not, was the first 1-2-3 inning of the night for the Rays.

7th inning Dodgers 8, Rays 3 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 10:41 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 10:41 p.m. ET By Sixth Inning: Kershaw gets some help in stifling the Rays. Justin Turner threw out Yandy Diaz from his knees. Credit... Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports, via Reuters After sitting around for more than 30 minutes because of the Dodgers’ long fifth inning at the plate, Clayton Kershaw had a 1-2-3 sixth. He was aided by a slick play by third baseman Justin Turner, who stabbed a ground ball to his left and threw out Yandy Diaz at first base from his knees. Kershaw has thrown 78 pitches through six innings, which helps a Dodgers’ bullpen that was worn out by Game 7 of the N.L.C.S. two days ago. In the bottom half of the inning, the Dodgers continued to outperform the Rays at the plate. Mookie Betts gave his team a 7-1 lead with a solo blast to right field off Josh Fleming. It was his first home run of this postseason. The Dodgers extended the lead to 8-1 when Max Muncy doubled to bring home Turner.

6th inning Dodgers 8, Rays 1 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 9:52 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 9:52 p.m. ET By Fifth Inning: The Dodgers strike back after Kevin Kiermaier’s homer. Kevin Kiermaier with Mike Zunino after his solo homer in the fifth. Credit... Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Kevin Kiermaier, the Rays’ longest-tenured player, got a slider from Clayton Kershaw right over the heart of the plate and sent it over the right-center field fence for a solo homer. It halved the Rays’ deficit to 2-1 and snapped Kershaw’s streak of 13 straight batters retired. The longest-tenured Ray takes the longest-tenured Dodger deep. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/LNBBCz4Inn — MLB () October 21, 2020 Kiermaier was hit on the wrist by a pitch in Game 3 of the American League Championship and started only one more game in that series. He felt better on Tuesday and was in the starting lineup. The blast also epitomized the Rays’ modus operandi this postseason: they walk, strike out and, when they do score, it is often via the long ball. Entering tonight, about 72 percent of the Rays’ runs this postseason came on home runs. But the Dodgers responded in a big way in the bottom half of the inning. Mookie Betts drew a walk off Tyler Glasnow to lead off the inning, stole second base and then third (as part of a double steal with Corey Seager), and then beat first baseman Yandy Diaz’s throw home on a fielder’s choice. As Glasnow labored through the inning, Rays Manager Kevin Cash had Ryan Yarbrough warming in the bullpen. But the Dodgers tacked on another run before Cash could bring in Yarbrough, with Will Smith smacking a single into center field to score Seager. The hit gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead and chased Glasnow from the game. With Yarbrough in the game, the Dodgers’ buzzsaw continued. Run-scoring singles by Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez moved the Dodgers ahead by 6-1. Glasnow was charged with all six runs. Tyler Glasnow's six walks tonight are the most in a World Series game since St. Louis' Edwin Jackson in Game 4 of the 2011 WS, across the street at the old Texas ballpark. — Tyler Kepner () October 21, 2020 Read more

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5th inning Dodgers 6, Rays 1 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 9:31 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 9:31 p.m. ET By Fourth Inning: Bellinger’s homer puts the Dodgers in front. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images slide 1 slide 2 slide 3 If you were Clayton Kershaw, you would keep throwing that slider, too. It has been biting, and is still fooling the Rays. He has six strikeouts through four scoreless innings, and five have come on that pitch. He has thrown it 22 times already. In all, the Rays have whiffed at 16 of Kershaw’s 55 pitches so far. At the plate, the Dodgers finally broke through against Tyler Glasnow. Cody Bellinger, who hit the winning home run in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, smashed a two-run blast that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. Belli's picking up where he left off. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/hV7Mc4ELnz — MLB () October 21, 2020 This time, Bellinger celebrated with his teammates with a foot tap. On Sunday, Bellinger dislocated his right shoulder, which he said has happened before, when he forcefully smacked elbows with Enrique Hernandez in celebration after his homer. Tonight, Bellinger’s swing showed no ill effects of any lingering shoulder soreness, too. Read more

4th inning Dodgers 2, Rays 0 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 9:16 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 9:16 p.m. ET By Third Inning: Strikeouts are piling up. Tyler Glasnow and Mike Zunino had a discussion in between innings. Credit... Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Clayton Kershaw and his slider are in a groove. He struck out Mike Zunino and Brandon Lowe, a Rays standout during the regular who has struggled immensely in the postseason, on a combined eight pitches. He has fanned four batters so far. The Rays’ offense is susceptible to strikeouts (they led the major leagues in the category during the regular season) and has been carried by a handful of hitters, such as Randy Arozarena. Entering Game 1, the Rays averaged four runs per game this postseason. The Dodgers, on the other hand, have averaged nearly six runs per game during these playoffs. But Tyler Glasnow has also been in command on the mound, striking out three in the third inning. He has struck out five in all. Corey Seager worked his second walk in two plate appearances, holding off on Glasnow’s offerings near the edges. This is one area where the Dodgers can pounce: Glasnow walked 22 batters in 57 ⅓ regular-season innings, and eight in 19 ⅓ postseason innings entering Game 1.

3rd inning Dodgers 0, Rays 0 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 8:55 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 8:55 p.m. ET By Second Inning: The pitchers’ duel continues. Tyler Glasnow’s breaking balls have been baffling the Dodgers’ hitters so far. Credit... Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports, via Reuters Clayton Kershaw looked much sharper in the second inning. He needed just 11 pitches to get a flyout from Joey Wendle, a strikeout from Willy Adames and flyout from Kevin Kiermaier. He got Adames to whiff on a sharp slider, a key pitch for Kershaw: Opponents hit .197 against his slider during the regular season, the lowest mark of his main three offerings. John G Mabanglo/EPA, via Shutterstock Eric Gay/Associated Press John G Mabanglo/EPA, via Shutterstock slide 1 slide 2 slide 3 Tyler Glasnow, who mainly relies on his fastball and curveball, used his wicked breaking ball to strike out both Will Smith and Joc Pederson. That helped Glasnow pitch around a single by Chris Taylor, which represented the Dodgers’ first hit of the game. The Rays’ talented pitching staff faces a stiff challenge in the Dodgers, who led the major leagues with 5.82 runs per game during the regular season.

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2nd inning Dodgers 0, Rays 0 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 8:38 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 8:38 p.m. ET By First Inning: A shaky start for Kershaw. Clayton Kershaw allowed two baserunners in the first inning but escaped without a run. Credit... Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports, via Reuters During the pregame ceremonies at Globe Life Field, Vin Scully, the iconic Dodgers broadcaster, uttered his famous introduction — “It’s time for Dodger baseball” — in a recorded video message played on the big screen. Vin Scully with a cameo. pic.twitter.com/fmUebeIDl2 — Jorge Castillo () October 21, 2020 Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ ace, threw 20 pitches in a scoreless top of the first inning. He coughed up a single to Yandy Diaz, the Rays’ leadoff hitter, and seemed to pitch around Randy Arozarena, the Rays’ slugger who walked. But the Rays, whose offense has been inconsistent throughout the postseason, couldn’t capitalize. It was a smoother first inning for Tyler Glasnow, the Rays’ hard-throwing starter. He walked Corey Seager, the Dodgers’ shortstop, on six pitches, but got two flyouts and a groundout. He hit 100 miles per hour a few times, and 101 once.

1st inning Dodgers 0, Rays 0 Game 1 of 2020 World Series

Oct. 20, 2020, 7:47 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 7:47 p.m. ET By Stars will take the mound for Game 1. Clayton Kershaw was dominant during the regular season. Credit... Tannen Maury/EPA, via Shutterstock It will be a marquee pitching matchup in the first game of the best-of-seven series: the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow of the Rays. Kershaw, 32, is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and arguably the best starting pitcher of his generation. He had a stellar regular season with a 6-2 record and 2.16 earned run average. But he has a complicated postseason legacy, which is checkered with both strong and poor performances, including this year. In 35 career playoff appearances, he is 11-12 with a 4.31 E.R.A. Glasnow, 27, doesn’t have Kershaw’s track record but he is certainly talented. He is better than his 2020 regular season numbers — 5-1 record and a 4.08 E.R.A. — suggest. His arsenal — a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and a wicked curveball — makes him one of the best strikeout starters in baseball. He, too, has had both stout and middling outings this postseason. The Dodgers have not yet announced a Game 2 starter, but the Rays said they would go with Blake Snell, a 2018 Cy Young Award winner.

Oct. 20, 2020, 7:10 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 7:10 p.m. ET By This Fall Classic will take place in a strange setting. Fans were allowed to attend National League Championship Series games and will also be at World Series games. Credit... Nitashia Johnson for The New York Times During the last week of the regular season, M.L.B. asked teams in position to qualify for the playoffs to quarantine in hotels, even at home. So, both the Rays and the Dodgers have been living out of hotels for about a month. Players’ wives and children were allowed to join them as long as they also quarantined. When M.L.B. and the players’ union agreed to play in a handful contained environments for the playoffs, the country’s virus hot spots were changing and both sides wanted to limit their exposure by cutting down on the travel of a normal postseason. So they picked warmer-weather venues as neutral sites: Southern California for the A.L. and Texas for the N.L. The World Series will be held at Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers’ new stadium in Arlington, Texas, that features a retractable roof and artificial turf. It will be the first World Series held at a neutral site and first since 1944 to be played all at one stadium. A limited number of tickets have been sold to the World Series, and fans were also allowed into N.L. Championship Series games at Globe Life Field. While the Rays played the past two weeks at Petco Park in San Diego, the Dodgers are already familiar with Globe Life Park, where they played the past two rounds of the playoffs. Although the traditional days off were removed from the first three rounds this year, which complicated teams’ pitching plans, they are back in the schedule for the World Series. The Dodgers and Rays will have a day off after Games 2 and 5. Read more

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Oct. 20, 2020, 6:06 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2020, 6:06 p.m. ET By The Dodgers and the Rays have a big spending disparity. The Dodgers gave Mookie Betts a 12-year $365 million contract before this season. Credit... Ronald Martinez/Getty Images The starkest difference between the Dodgers and the Rays is money. Before the pandemic shortened the season and trimmed salaries, the Dodgers’ opening day payroll was set to be the third-largest in the major leagues at $225 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. The Rays, who play in an outdated stadium and are regularly near the bottom of baseball’s attendance list, are on the receiving end of M.L.B.’s revenue-sharing and had a pre-pandemic opening day payroll of $94 million, the fourth-smallest in the majors. The Rays rely on strong scouting, analytics savvy and robust player development to build their roster — or trade for hidden gems in other organizations, such as postseason star Randy Arozarena or starter Tyler Glasnow. They play stellar defense and have a deep group of players, particularly on the mound, that Manager Kevin Cash swaps out frequently to exploit matchups. Despite failing to win a World Series title recently, the Dodgers have been a juggernaut the past several years under Andrew Friedman, their president of baseball operations. He was the Rays’ general manager from 2005 to 2014, the architect of the team that reached the 2008 World Series. During his tenure there, he hired Erik Neander, now the Rays’ G.M., as an intern. Friedman brought his acumen to Los Angeles, where the Dodgers have both built a strong farm system (which has produced stars like outfielder Cody Bellinger and starter Walker Buehler) and flexed their financial muscle (they gave superstar outfielder Mookie Betts a 12-year, $365-million extension after trading for him before this season). Read more

Source: New York Times

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