*Photo from NBC Sports*
LAD wins series 4-2
The strangest MLB season ever has come to an end, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are on top of the baseball world. The pitching excelled, Mookie Betts homered, and the Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays by a 3-1 score, winning their first world series since 1988. Corey Seager was named world series MVP after the game, after posting a .400 batting average with two homers and 5 RBI in the 6 game series.
The Rays got the scoring started in the first inning, when Randy Arozarena continued his amazing postseason with a solo homer to right field, making it 1-0 Rays early on. It stayed that way until the 6th inning, when Austin Barnes scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at one. Later, Betts scored on a fielders choice to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. In the 8th inning, Betts hit a solo homer, effectively putting the game away, making it a 3-1 score.
Victor Gonzalez got the win for the Dodgers, throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out 3 hitters. Tony Gonsolin got the start for the Dodgers, throwing 1 2/3 innings, allowing the solo homer to Arozarena on 3 hits and two walks. Dylan Floro, Alex Wood, Pedro Baez, Brusdar Graterol, and Julio Urias also pitched for the Dodgers, with Urias closing it out.
Seager described the championship for the Dodgers, saying that "This team was incredible all throughout the year, all throughout the postseason, all throughout the quarantine, we never stopped. We were ready to go as soon as the bell was called. And once it did, we kept rolling."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said during the on field celebration that "This is our year, we said it. This is our year. Everyone in this ballpark wearing Dodger blue, everyone all over the world wearing Dodger blue, never wavered. This is our year."
Longtime Dodger Clayton Kershaw discussed winning his first championship, saying that "I've been to the postseason, I've lost every single year, to look up, I wish it was Dodger Stadium, but it feels like it right now with all these Dodger fans around. To see how happy these fans are, they've been waiting a long time, too, It's just a special feeling."
Nick Anderson got the loss for the Rays, throwing 1/3 of an inning in relief. Blake Snell got the start for the Rays, throwing 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, striking out 9 hitters. Snell was lifted by manager Kevin Cash in a controversial move, as Snell had a shutout going, and had only allowed 3 balls out of the infield. Anderson then came in and allowed the two runs, one of which was charged to Snell.
That move by Cash was ultimately what cost the Rays this game, and the title, and Snell wasn't happy about it, saying after the game that "I believe in me, I believe in what I was doing, I didn't walk anybody. For most of that game, man, I was dominating every outcome possible."
Cash himself addressed his decision after the game, saying that "I guess I regret the Snell move because it didn't work out, but I feel like the thought process was right. Every decision that's made, that end result has a pretty weighing factor in how you feel about it. If we had to do it over again, I would have the utmost confidence in Nick Anderson to get through that inning."
Of course, this wouldn't be the 2020 MLB season without another twist, so it was revealed in the 6th inning that Dodgers 3rd baseman Justin Turner had tested positive for COVID-19 in his test taken that morning. The test he had taken on Monday came back inconclusive, so MLB told the lab that determines the test results to run Turner's Monday test again, as well as his test from Tuesday morning. Both tests then came back positive. Turner was replaced by Edwin Rios in the game.
After the Dodgers clinched the title, Turner, against the isolation guidelines, came back onto the field to celebrate with his team, not wearing a mask or following any COVID-19 guidelines. He was even spotted sitting for the championship photo, maskless, next to Roberts, also maskless, who is considered high risk for contracting COVID-19 due to a previous bout with cancer.
Turner said in a Twitter statement of his contracting COVID-19 that "Thanks to everyone reaching out! I feel great, no symptoms at all. Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can’t believe I couldn’t be out there to celebrate with my guys! So proud of this team & unbelievably happy for the City of LA"
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that, due to Turner being a free agent, his teammates weren't going to stop him from celebrating with the team, as his future with the Dodgers is uncertain. Friedman also said everyone on the roster, including coaching staff, would undergo COVID testing and determine when it is best for them to leave Texas and come back to California.
Both teams head home for the Winter, with the Dodgers celebrating, and the Rays looking to come back again next year, with a different result.
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