Lowe Goes Deep Twice, Rays Even Series

2B Brandon Lowe crushed two home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 in Game 2 of the World Series at Globe Life Park.

The Rays got off to a hot start courtesy of a solo home run to left center by Lowe in the top of the first inning. After getting out of a jam, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts took out SP Tony Gonsolin after just 1.1 innings and continued to rotate pitchers each inning.

A huge play from the NLCS MVP, SS Corey Seager, kept a runner from crossing home in the second to keep the lead at one. The momentum had now shifted to the Dodgers.

That was until Rays 3B Joey Wendle doubled to deep left center off RHP Dustin May, driving in RF Manuel Margot and 1B Ji-Man Choi in the top of the fourth. The Rays capitalized again in the fifth inning on a two-out, two-run shot from Lowe for his second home run of the game. It was an early Christmas present to Lowe, as May missed his mark and hung a curveball right down the middle.

Rays SP Blake Snell had a no-hitter going through four innings and put up nine strikeouts. Everything was going Tampa’s way until the Dodgers’ bats woke up.

In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, LF Chris Taylor hit a two-run home run to right field that gave the Dodgers life. Snell’s no-hitter, his shutout and his night were now over.

A sac-fly from Wendle l in the sixth gave the Rays a 6-2 lead. C Will Smith fired right back with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning for his second homer of the postseason to pull the Dodgers within three.

In the bottom eighth, Seager added to his impressive postseason with a solo home run to make it 6-4. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, their comeback effort was too little too late. Although somewhat shaky, the Rays bullpen closed the door on the Dodgers to even the series 1-1.

Notable Performances

Snell: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 9 K, 4 BB

Lowe: 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Wendle: 1-3, 3 RBI

Seager: 2-4, HR, R, RBI

Looking Ahead To Game 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers will take Game 3 of the World Series to avoid back-to-back loses. The Rays will have a tough task going up against a well rested SP Walker Bueller. The Dodgers offense will also be looking to redeem themselves after a slow start in Game 2.

Rays SP Charlie Morton has the task of slowing them down. The Ray’s ace is 3-0 with a 0.57 ERA in this postseason. But he hasn’t faced this All-Star lineup under this kind of pressure. I predict the Dodgers will topple the Rays 6-2 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series advantage.