*Photo from KTLA*
LAD leads series 3-2
If the Los Angeles Dodgers fall short of a world series title once again this year, Clayton Kershaw certainly won't be the one to blame. Kershaw turned in another great start, Joc Pederson homered, and the Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 to take a 3-2 series lead, putting themselves one win from the title. Kershaw has done a good job exorcising his "playoff Kershaw" demons, turning in an undefeated record in 4 starts, with a 2.88 ERA.
The Dodgers got the scoring started in the first inning, when Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger each hit RBI singles, making it 2-0 Dodgers early on. In the second inning, Pederson blasted a solo homer to center field, making it a 3-0 Dodgers lead. In the 3rd, the Rays got on the board with a Yandy Diaz RBI triple and a Randy Arozarena RBI single, making the lead 3-2. In the 5th, Max Muncy hit a long solo homer to center field, making it a 4-2 lead for the Dodgers.
Kershaw got the win for the Dodgers, throwing 5 2/3 innings of quality performance. Kershaw allowed two runs on 5 hits and two walks, striking out 6 Rays hitters. After Kershaw was lifted, Dustin May threw 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two. Victor Gonzalez then threw 2/3 of an inning, and Blake Treinen finished it off, getting the save.
Kershaw, when asked about his run of good playoff starts this postseason, said that "I don't want to say it's working out the way that I wanted it to, just because being at Dodger Stadium would be awesome, too, but to get to have family and friends here, to get to have as packed a house as it can be and make it basically seem like it's all Dodger fans is very special as well."
Kershaw talked about success in the playoffs in general as well. Kershaw said that "Any time you can have success in the postseason, it just means so much, it's what you work for, it's what you play for this month. I know what the other end of that feels like, too, so I'll definitely take it when I can get it."
Tyler Glasnow got the loss for the Rays, throwing 5 innings. Glasnow allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 7 hitters. After Glasnow left, Aaron Loup got two outs in the 6th, and then Diego Castillo came on, throwing 1 1/3 innings after that. Ryan Sherriff and Ryan Thompson then came on, each throwing a scoreless inning.
After a fantastic regular season, Glasnow has struggled in October, allowing a record 9 homers across his starts this postseason. Glasnow addressed his struggles, saying that "I think it’s definitely not like my greatest month of baseball, that’s for sure, it's just been falling behind on guys and not having that rhythm in the zone."
Rays outfielder Manuel Margot tried an ill-advised steal of home in the 4th inning, with two outs. Margot was thrown out by Kershaw, ending the inning and ruining a chance for the Rays to, at least, tie the game. Margot said that "I knew they weren't really paying too much attention to me, I thought I had a chance, and obviously it didn't work out that way."
The series continues on Tuesday, after a day off, for game 6, where Blake Snell starts for the Rays against Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers.
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