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Game 4 of the 2020 World Series was one for the ages. Now we get prepared for Game 5 with a rematch of the pitchers we same in Game 1 of this series, Clayton Kershaw for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tyler Glasnow for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays are hoping to ride the wave of last night’s amazing comeback and the Dodgers are hoping for a repeat of Game 1.
Let’s see how this one shakes out.
1st Inning
Hopes of keeping the excitement from Game 4 going were quickly deflated. The inning started with Mookie Betts hitting a double off a Glasnow fastball. Betts then scored the first run on a RBI-Single from Corey Seager.
The perfect start for the @Dodgers. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/1YSLSfoPT6
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2020
Seager advanced on two wild pitches from Glasnow and then scored on a hit from Cody Bellinger. As per usual, the Rays are trailing early, this time 2-0. The good news is no homer to start the game off.
In the bottom of the first Yandy Diaz gave some hope with a leadoff single. Randy Arozarena hits a beautiful shot that fell just barely foul providing a glimpse of hope like finding the first two numbers on a scratch lottery ticket.
A double play and foul out later and it’s on to the second inning.
Dodgers lead 2-0.
Second Inning
Joc Pederson took a Glasnow fastball and crushed it extending Dodgers lead to 3-0.
Joc Pederson is slugging .837 on high 95 MPH+ pitches since the start of 2019, best in MLB.
— Inside Edge (@IE_MLB) October 26, 2020
Second on that list is Josh Bell at .694. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/bxyTAOYkGF
Tyler not looking good. Through the first two innings the Dodgers batters are hitting him hard regardless of pitch.
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Austin Barnes gets walked and then tries to still second. Willy don’t play that.
Got the call right, this time #raysup pic.twitter.com/TACe8O1XU1
— Zac-O-Lantern (@ZacOnTheMic) October 26, 2020
Margot with a leadoff bunt to start the bottom of the inning and advanced to second on a Renfroe groundout.
Margot would get left stranded as if he rode the SS Minnow to second base with the help of a very questionable called strike three on Joey Wendle that looked just a tad high.
Joey Wendle going to have some feelings, I think pic.twitter.com/0OSMZWf43j
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 26, 2020
I didn't realize Joey Wendle was 6-8
— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) October 26, 2020
Third Inning
Max Muncy single gives the leadoff batter a hit in every inning so far. Glasnow staying ever consistent throws his third wild pitch of the game to move Muncy to second.
Tyler Glasnow is the first pitcher in history with three wild pitches in a World Series game. It's the third inning.
— Stephanie Apstein (@stephapstein) October 26, 2020
The good news is two strikeouts later and a groundout and we have our first inning of the game without allowing a run. We are making progress.
Kevin Kiermaier hustles out a single to start the bottom of the third giving every Rays leadoff hitter a hit as well. Then Yandy Diaz with a big triple that scores Kiermaier to make it a 3-1 game.
Yandy Diaz with an RBI triple. #Rays on the board. #RaysUp #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/wWvupqOswp
— Justin Groc (@jgroc) October 26, 2020
Arozarena follows with a RBI single of his own to trim the Dodgers lead to 3-2. This Randy is collecting records that are not made of vinyl.
All. He. Does. Is. Hit!
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) October 26, 2020
Randy Arozarena, the #Rays No. 19 prospect, now holds the MLB postseason record with 27 hits after this RBI single.pic.twitter.com/cEhhpMfDw8
Fourth Inning
Person, Barnes, and Betts. That’s the inning. 1-2-3.
Manuel Margot continues the leadoff baserunner streak with a walk. Then he steals second and decides to go for third when the ball gets lose. The aggressive move pays off with a runner on third and no outs.
.@RaysBaseball starting to show off the speed! Margot makes it to 3rd with no one out! pic.twitter.com/PMqfcOthUe
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2020
Margot then tries to steal home and falls inches short to end the inning. Hate the outcome, love the gamble.
Margot just tried to steal home and is called OUT!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2020
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/IaXyQLIWRA
Fifth Inning
Glasnow was looking good through the first two batters then gifted Max Muncy a homer with a fastball dead center in the zone. Yet another two-out run for the Dodgers extending their lead to 4-2.
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Glasnow will end his night after five innings pitched. The Dodgers were hitting him hard. Thankfully it is only a two-run deficit.
Tyler Glasnow finished with a 99.5 mph avg exit velocity against him, the highest in any outing of his career (min 5 batted balls)
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 26, 2020
It’s the fastest avg exit velo against a pitcher in a postseason outing tracked by Statcast (since 2015), min 10 batted balls
On to the bottom of the fifth and Kershaw gets his first 1-2-3 inning.
Sixth Inning
Aaron Loup is in to pitch for the Rays for 0.2 innings giving up one walk. Diego Castillo comes in to retire the last batter. Still only down two.
Kershaw only needs two pitches to retire the first two Rays hitters. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts pulls Kershaw for Dustin May to which the crowd responds with a chorus of boos not related to Halloween. There was also some appreciation for Kershaw.
Sequence of events:
— Jill Jelnick (@JillJelnick) October 26, 2020
1. Boos for Dave Roberts
2. Applause for Kershaw
3. More boos for Roberts#Dodgers #WorldSeries
It may work, but the #Rays I'm guessing would have rather faced the Dodgers bullpen as good as they are, than Kershaw. He had retired his last 7 batters on just 21 pitches with nothing hit out of the infield.
— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) October 26, 2020
Also, Dustin May decided he wanted to be good tonight and strikeout Margot. Dodgers still lead 4-2.
Seventh Inning
Castillo gets Betts, Seager, and Turner in order. Easy like Sunday morning.
Now we just need some offense and by offense I mean three runs in the next three innings.
Joey Wendle with a well struck ball that landed in Pederson’s glove. Man, that felt like the moment needed right there. Meadows pinch hits for Renfroe but the result is an out.
May is dealing and that is not fun to watch.
The Dustin May Experience pic.twitter.com/REWPkc3EEN
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) October 26, 2020
Dustin May, Filthy 100mph Two Seamer (with Tail). pic.twitter.com/bE0IN8LEyQ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 26, 2020
Still have some time left for a comeback. Right?
Eighth Inning
Ryan Sheriff in to pitch for the Rays and holds the line. The bullpen has been outstanding today and is keeping the margin in reach for the Rays if a rally can ever get going.
The #Rays Ryan Sherriff now has had 12 appearances between regular season and postseason and still hasn't allowed a run. He's done a good job, and they've matched him up well too.
— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) October 26, 2020
Kiermaier leads off the bottom of the eighth with a Single after May leaves a sinker up in the zone.
Tsutsugo pinch hits for Zunino and flies out. Dodgers bring in Victor Gonzalez in relief of May and the Rays counter by pinch hitting Mike Brosseau for Ji-Man Choi.
Kiermaier to second on a wild pitch and Brosseau draws a walk. Bringing Randy to the plate.
Randy flies out followed by Lowe with a line drive right to Bellinger’s glove. On to the ninth with Dodgers still holding on to a 4-2 lead.
Ninth Inning
Ryan Thompson in to pitch the ninth for the Rays. Quick work of Taylor and Hernandez with groundouts.
One walk and a strikeout and we are on to the bottom of the ninth. Can lightning strike twice in one series?
Blake Treinen comes up for the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth with Margot, Meadows, and Wendle due up.
Margot with a leadoff single that sneaks through the infield. Meadows comes to the plate as the potential tying runner.
A hit for Margot to 1st base #raysup #worldseries pic.twitter.com/8H9ZcF2Tyr
— Jennifer Hernandez (@LifeofPJern) October 26, 2020
Meadows strikes out.
Wendle flies out to center.
Adames strikes out.
Dodgers win and take a 3-2. After a day off tomorrow we will see if the Rays can push the series to seven or if the Dodgers win it all on Tuesday.