Dodgers Win Crucial Game 5

After one of the craziest World Series games in history, the Los Angeles Dodgers came back in a big way to win Game 5 4-2 and claim a 3-2 series advantage.

The Dodgers came out on fire to start the game when RF Mookie Betts crushed a leadoff double and later scored on an RBI single by SS Corey Seager to go up 1-0. Later in the same inning, CF Cody Bellinger increased the lead to 2-0 hitting an RBI single to right field.

After a very quick inning from Dodgers SP Clayton Kershaw in the bottom of the first, LF Joc Pederson crushed a leadoff home run to centerfield to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead in the second.

Rays SP Tyler Glasnow held the Dodgers scoreless for the first time in the top of the third inning. That’s when the Rays finally got on the board against Kershaw, as CF Kevin Kiermaier reached first on a leadoff infield single and later scored on a one-out triple from 1B Yandy Díaz.

The Rays trimmed the Dodgers’ lead down to one when Diaz scored on an RBI single from OF Randy Arozarena to make it 3-2 after three innings. That single was his 27th hit in the 2020 postseason, which is the most in MLB history.

Glasnow got the first 1-2-3 inning of Game 5 in the top of the fourth inning, inducing a flyout from Pederson, C Austin Barnes and Betts.

The Rays had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth when LF Manuel Margot worked a leadoff walk. Margot reached third base with none out when he stole second and advanced to third on an error by 2B Chris Taylor.

After Kershaw got the next two batters with a pop-out and a strikeout, Margot tried to steal home, but Barnes held on to the ball to keep the game at 3-2 after four innings.

First baseman Max Muncy increased the Dodgers lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning with a two-out home run to right field. Muncy became the ninth Dodgers batter to hit a home run in the 2020 World Series.

Kershaw finally got his first 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fifth with two strikeouts and a groundout to keep the Dodgers lead at 4-2.

After sitting down seven straight batters, Manager Dave Roberts decided to pull Kershaw and have RHP Dustin May enter the game, promptly striking out Margot for the final out of the sixth inning.

Kershaw and May retired 11 straight batters until Kiermaier managed to reach first on a leadoff single in the bottom of the eighth inning. He later advanced to second on a wild pitch from LHP Victor Gonzalez.

However, after surrendering a walk to PH Mike Brosseau, Gonzalez got back-to-back fly outs from Arozarena and 2B Brandon Lowe to keep the Dodgers lead intact at 4-2 heading into the ninth inning.

The Rays were looking for more walk-off magic in the bottom of the ninth after Margot reached first base on a leadoff walk from RHP Blake Treinen. Ultimately, Treinen came up big with two strikeouts and a flyout to give the Dodgers the 4-2 victory and a 3-2 lead in the World Series.

Kershaw got the win on the mound after throwing 5.2 innings, allowing only five hits and two runs. Despite throwing five strong innings, Glasnow earned the loss after giving up four runs in five innings of work.

Notable Performances

Muncy: 2-3, HR, RBI, R, BB

Pederson: 1-2, HR, RBI, R, BB

Diaz: 2-3, 3B, RBI, R

Arozarena: 1-4, RBI

Looking Ahead To Game 6

Two questions are going to be answered Tuesday night. Will the Rays force Game 7? And will the Dodgers win their first World Series title since 1988? As we have seen in the first five games, neither team has won two games in a row.

LHP Blake Snell will take the mound for Tampa Bay. The Dodgers have yet to announce their starting pitcher for Game 6, but SP Tony Gonsolin is expected to toe the rubber..