They might have gotten a little help from the opposing manager in Game 6, but the Los Angeles Dodgers finally won their World Series, the first for the franchise since 1988 and the first in three tries for them over the past four years.
The Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on Tuesday night at Globe Life Field behind a stellar effort from their bullpen, with six relievers combining for a 7⅓ scoreless innings, after starter Tony Gonsolin gave up a solo home run to Rays rookie sensation Randy Arozarena in the first. L.A. won the series 4-2.
Corey Seager achieved a rare October double, becoming Most Valuable Player of the World Series after earning the honor for the National League Championship Series — just as Orel Hershiser did when the Dodgers won their previous World Series title in 1988.
“That’s things you think about when you’re a kid,” Seager said of being called World Series champion. “You wonder what it’s like, you strive to hear that, and to do it with this team and this group — it couldn’t be any more special.”
The Dodgers trailed early in Game 6 and were doing very little on offense until the sixth inning, when Rays manager Kevin Cash inexplicably pulled starter Blake Snell while the left-hander was pitching a gem. Snell had struck out nine batters while giving up two hits, including one to Austin Barnes before being pulled. Reliever Nick Anderson came into the game and immediately gave up a double to Mookie Betts, a run-scoring wild pitch and a run-scoring groundout, erasing the deficit and giving the Dodgers their first lead of the game.
“I’m not exactly sure why,” Betts said when asked about the decision to remove Snell. “I’m not going to ask any questions. He was pitching a great game.”
Arozarena’s homer was his 10th of this postseason, but it wasn’t enough for the Rays, who managed only four hits the rest of the way. The Dodgers also had five hits on the night, including a home run by Betts in the eighth inning to extend the Dodgers’ lead.
Julio Urias pitched the final 2⅓ innings for the save.
It is the seventh championship for the Dodgers, who have won their division for eight consecutive years. The Dodgers posted the best record in the majors during this pandemic-shortened season. They had a scare against the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, going down 3-1 in the series before winning three straight games to capture the pennant.
Longtime Dodgers broadcasting legend Vin Scully, who retired in 2016 following a 67-year career, tweeted his congratulations to the team.
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