In 1988 Vin Scully said “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!” His immortal words described Kirk Gibson’s epic World Series home run which was the last World Series titles the Dodgers would win, until now!
For Dodger fans, it’s been 32 years, but the Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series wining their 7th World Championship.
Game 6 was full of drama as it was touch-and-go for several innings. The Rays drew first blood when their Rookie sensation Randy Arozarena took Dodgers starting pitcher Tony “The Cat-man” Gonsolin deep with his 10th post season home run.
After that, Gonsolin didn’t give up anything else…. the bullpen took it from there. Dodger relievers held the Rays to that that 1st inning ding-dong while pitching toe-to-toe with Rays started, Cy Young Award Winner, Blake Snell. Hats off to the relievers, Alex Wood, Pedro Baez, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Gradoral, and especially Julio Urias. The southpaw was able to keep his pitch count low enough to enable him to throw three innings and close out the game with a series defining strike-out.
For the Dodgers, they couldn’t touch Snell until the sixth. That’s when Rays Manager Kevin Cash pulled Snell. It was a move that left Snell visibly upset, and will haunt the Rays all off-season. Up to that point, Snell was dominating all Dodger hitters.
Once he was pulled, the Dodgers immediately scored two runs. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew never looked back. Mookie Betts put the dagger in the Rays coffin with a blast in the bottom of the 8th to give the Dodgers the final, 3-1.
For the Dodgers, it’s been a long-long road. It’s been a season that seemed like it would never end. Despite the 60-game regular season, it was the never-ending story, or at least it was until tonight!
For the Dodgers this COVID shortened season did not start off as expected with pitcher David Price opting out of the season. The team rallied and stuck together culminating in baseball’s best record and blowing through their opponents in the playoffs, with exceptions being the Atlanta Braves and the Rays who also gave them their money’s worth.
For the Dodgers, Cory Seager and Justin Turner killed it throughout playoff ‘s. For AL MVP and Dodger Right Fielder, Mookie Betts wasn’t as loud in the Series, but came through when the game was on the line. Cody Bellinger didn’t have a Post-MVP year he had hoped for, but he came through with huge hits and cartoon-crazy plays in the filed when it mattered.
As for their icon, Clayton Kershaw pitched well in his appearances. Anchoring those games may have secured his Hall of Fame legacy. Walker Bueller was impressive throughout. The rest of the team played solid baseball all year long.
Justin Turner, the heart and soul of the team was taken out of the game without explanation in the 8th inning.
A post-game explanation confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19. Turner had an inconclusive COVID test the day before and was tested again before the game. It’s reported that the test came back positive and the League Office was notified during the game, and Manager Dave Roberts was notified in the 7th inning, which prompted Turner being pulled in the 8th.
This remains a developing storyline, updates to follow.
Aside that Game 4 hiccup, the Dodgers played like the best team in baseball. Congrats to the World Champion Dodgers, to their Manager Dave Roberts, President of Baseball Operation, Andrew Freidman and Mark Walter, Owner. It was a well-earned title.
Cory Seager played insanely inspiring baseball throughout the playoffs and World Series, and was named the 2020 World Series MVP.
Just as importantly, congrats to all Dodgers fans throughout the world and to the team’s roots… everyone back in Brooklyn.
