The Tampa Bay Rays offense ran into a dominant performance from Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting pitch Walker Buehler as Tampa Bay fell in game three of the World Series 6-2 on Friday night in Arlington, TX.Buehler became the first pitcher in World Series history to record double-digit strikeouts in six innings pitched as the Dodgers are two wins away from their first World Series title since 1988.
Built as a match up of two of the hottest pitchers in the postseason between Buehler and Rays starter Charlie Morton, Morton struggled from the very first inning as he gave up an early lead on a solo home run from Justin Turner giving LA an early 1-0 lead which the Dodgers never looked back.
Los Angeles scored five times on Morton through his four innings of work as Max Muncy’s two-RBI double and a Mookie Betts RBI single complimented a rare safety squeeze by Austin Barnes putting the Dodgers up 5-0 through four innings of play.Tampa Bay broke through in the fifth inning on a Willy Adames RBI single cutting the lead to 5-1, but Barnes would answer again in the top half of the sixth inning with a solo home run to put Los Angeles lead back to five.
Randy Arozarena added a solo home run in the bottom half of the ninth inning setting a new rookie record for home runs in the postseason passing former Tampa Bay Rays superstar Evan Longoria with his ninth home run of the postseason.
Buehler finished the game pitching six innings for Los Angeles allowing a run on three hits and striking out 10 Rays batters.
Tampa Bay will look to tie the series tomorrow night by sending Ryan Yarbourgh against Julio Urias for the Dodgers.First pitch is scheduled for 8:07pm on WDAE.
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