Enough about 1988! For the first time in 32 years, the Dodgers have won the World Series. The seventh title in franchise history. The most tumultuous year of the century in which many didn’t know what was in store, with baseball as an afterthought. No one knew if a Major League season would even take place. But baseball eventually got up and dusted itself off, and in the end, one team was standing—the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers fell behind early as Randy Arozarena continued his postseason for the ages. He hit his tenth homer of the postseason off Dodger starter Tony Gonsolin to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Dodger Manager Dave Roberts was hoping to get more innings out of Gonsolin, but he only got a mere 1 ⅔ frames. Gonsolin allowed one run on three hits and two walks and was relieved by Dylan Floro in the second inning. From there on, the Dodger carousel of pitching would continue. Left-hander Alex Wood came in after Floro, then came Pedro Baez followed by Victor Gonzalez, and Brusdar Graterol.
The bullpen only allowed one hit and pitched 7-1/3 scoreless innings. Julio Urias came in the seventh and was absolutely electric one again, not allowing a batter to reach base, much as he did in the NLCS.
Former American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell was dominating the Dodgers through the early innings similar to what he did in Game 2. Snell had the whole Dodger offense swinging silly. He only allowed two hits and struck out nine batters. Still, he was pulled in the sixth inning to the shock of the whole baseball world after only 73 pitches and allowing his second hit of the night to Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes.
In came Rays right-handed reliever Nick Anderson, and in came the second-guessing. Mookie Betts hit a double to move Barnes to third base, and a wild pitch would tie up the game. Corey Seager stepped up to plate next and hit a ground ball that didn’t even go 90 feet. But the insane baserunning speed of Betts was good enough for him to slide in front of the tag for a 2-1 Dodger lead.
The Dodgers later threatened in the seventh inning after Will Smith hit a leadoff double off the wall, but the Dodgers failed to bring in a run.
Betts then hit a bomb in the eighth inning, which surely made the entire city of Boston turn off the game.
Urias pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to make the Dodgers Champions.
Seager was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.
I think I can speak for many fans of the Dodgers, but we will surely be having a good night’s sleep.
What a year it was.
They’ve finally done it.