Behind Buehler’s Brilliant Gem, Dodgers Take 2-1 Series Lead

The Los Angeles Dodgers wasted no time in Game 3 of the World Series to jump on the Tampa Bay Rays by scoring five through the first four innings. After a dominating night from SP Walker Buehler backed by consistent hitting, the Dodgers took a 2-1 series lead with a 6-2 victory. 

3B Justin Turner hit his 11th postseason homer in the top of the first-inning, tying Duke Snider’s postseason home run record. A 1B Max Muncy single drove in two runs in the third, testing Ray’s postseason ace SP Charlie Morton who entered the game with a 3-0 record and a 0.59 ERA. 

The Dodgers consistently put pressure on the Rays by knocking out Morton in the fourth after adding on two additional runs, forcing the Rays to use their bullpen earlier than expected.

Buehler came out with another strong performance for LA. The 26-year-old’s historical night made him the first pitcher in World Series history to strike out 10 in six innings. Buehler went through four hitless innings until RF Manuel Margot got around a ball for a double down the left field line. 

Buehler looked as if he was going to get out of a jam after recording the second out of the fifth, but SS Willy Adames switched places with Margot with a double down the left field line putting the Rays on the board. This was their lone run scored until the bottom of the ninth.

C Austin Barnes responded to the run in the top half of the sixth by slamming a ball over the left field fence. Not only did he supply some power on the night, but he also executed an RBI sacrifice bunt in the fourth. 

You can never really know what version of RHP Kenley Jansen is going to show up in the ninth. He needed one more strike to close the game without giving up any runs, but then he gift wrapped a pitch that rookie LF Randy Arozarena sent into the stands, tying the MLB postseason HR record in the process. Lucky for the Dodgers, they had enough insurance runs and got out of the game without any true threat.

The last two teams, for what has been one of the strangest MLB seasons, will be back to play in Arlington, Texas, Saturday at 7 p.m. EST/ 4 p.m. PST. 

Notable Performances

SP Walker Buehler (#21) — Eric Gay/AP Photo

Buehler (W): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 

Turner: 2-5, HR, 2 R, RBI

Barnes: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R

Muncy: 2-4, 2 RBI, BB

Looking Ahead To Game 4

Game 4 of the series will have LHP Julio Urías on the mound for the Dodgers against LHP Ryan Yarbrough. Urías has been pretty untouchable this postseason, as he has four wins with a 0.56 ERA and 16 SO in 16 IP.

2B Brandon Lowe, 1B Ji-Man Choi and LF Randy Arzorena will need to wake up the Rays lineup in Game 4. Tampa cannot afford to fall asleep until Game 7 like they did against the Houston Astros.