Dodgers vs Rays, 5:00 PM PDT, TV: Fox
The series is tied at one game apiece. The Rays are the home team for the next three games. Today it’ll be RHP Walker Buehler (1-0, 1.89 ERA in this postseaon) for the Dodgers and RHP Charlie Morton (3-0, 0.57 ERA) for the Rays. This will be Buehler’s second World Series start: he pitched seven scoreless innings in 2018’s Game Three against the Red Sox. It will be Morton’s third World Series appearance: while with the Astros he pitched against the Dodgers twice in 2017, relieving in a Game Four loss and winning Game Seven.
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1945 Dodger President Branch Rickey announces that the team has signed two black players, shortstop Jackie Robinson and pitcher Johnny Wright, to play with Brooklyn’s Triple A team in Montreal. The 26 year-old Negro League infielder will be the first black player to play in organized baseball since 1884.
- 1951 The Associated Press selects Giants skipper Leo Durocher as the Manager of the Year. Under his leadership, the Giants rallied from a 13 1/2-game deficit in mid-August to win the pennant, beating the Dodgers in a three-game playoff series best remembered for Bobby Thomson’s fabled home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the deciding game at the Polo Grounds.
- 1993 Mike Piazza, the sixty-second round pick of the 1988 draft, is the BBWAA’s unanimous choice for the Rookie of the Year award in the National League. The Dodger catcher is the first player to hit over .300 (.318), connect for more than 30 homers (35), and drive in at least 100 runs (112) in the Senior Circuit as a freshman since Wally Berger accomplished the feat in his initial major league season with the Braves in 1930.
- 1998 Davey Johnson is hired to manage the second-place Dodgers, taking over the reins from Bill Russell. The former Mets, Reds, and Orioles skipper, who has finished first with every team he has ever led, will see his streak end in LA when he compiles a 163- 161 (.503) record.
Today in Rays’ history:
- 2014 After aggressively trying to sign their manager to a third contract extension, the Rays announce Joe Maddon has exercised an opt-out in his contract. During his nine-year tenure with Tampa Bay, a franchise perceived as perennial losers before his arrival, the popular skipper compiled a 754-705 record, leading the team to the playoffs four times, that included winning two AL East titles and one appearance in the World Series.
Lineups:
Dodgers:
Tonight's lineup at Rays:#WorldSeries | #LATogether pic.twitter.com/SknjYQBFqA
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 23, 2020
Rays:
World Series Game 3 https://t.co/UyWNdfBofT pic.twitter.com/aVQQLiRx4V
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 23, 2020
NPUT
https://twitter.com/jonweisman/status/1320030705766658048
I suspect the Devil Rays’ ‘pen is equally well-rested.
Barnes makes history. https://twitter.com/BillShaikin/status/1320019945330098176?s=20
Buehler is giving up hard contact whether it winds up foul, double play, or double or not.
Not that much, with seven K’s in five.
Last two innings
Two down, two to go. Julio tomorrow.
Pitcher’s duel as advertised.
2 k’s and half as many pitches (as Morton).
How does a guy that big split that smoothly? Can you imagine Hee-Sop doing that?
Morton has some wicked postseason numbers. I was at the lamentable Game 7 in 2017 when he was with the Asterisks.
A nice, tidy win. We need just two more (as if you didn’t know).
Half. Way. Home!!
Still, a low-stress game.
Woo-HOO!!!!!
Dodgers win!!!!!!!!!!!
Sinker didn’t sink.
Doesn’t throw one, but maybe should to go along with cutter and slider.
Huh. Gameday called them sinkers. I stand corrected!
So Gameday was picking up a poorly thrown cutter, would be my guess. He doesn’t purposely throw one.
Makes sense. More than once in that at bat.
Can you explain the difference to me (not ashamed to ask…)?
Sinker is generally thrown as a two seam fastball (fingers grip across two seams), which causes ball to rotate downward. Cutter grip is similar, but off center center so more pressure on one side of the ball. Characterized by late movement.
Thanks.
Nope. It rose into the stands
Meh, rally killer.
Kenley grooved one, but that’s OK.
Ooph.
Oh well.
Kenley hitting 95!
One more out.
Klassic Kenley.
Home away from home: This is the 16th game we have played in this ballpark this season: three in the regular season, three vs. the Padres, seven vs. the Braves and now three in the World Series. We played only 30 at Dodger Stadium. If someone else posted that, sorry, but when I am watching the game I am not near my computer.
Think about getting a cheap Chrome book.
Nasty!
Here we go.
Alright Kenley. Let’s get it done.
I’d be happy with a couple more runs.
I would love for you to be happy then.
Agree.
We have really slowed the comments down over the last few innings. Lol.
We have done our work and now just holding on and crossing our fingers.
So true. I did sing with my husband for the seventh inning stretch!
But you are root, root, rooting for the AWAY team.
Kenley needs work.
And will likely get it tonight?
Graterol!
Good work Brewster!
Loud out.
First one soft, so average on average
Ha! True enough.
Dodgers need to practice sliding into first.
Slide man! Oh nevermind.
Choi has moves. That is all.
Great strike three pitch!
Fine Treinen!
Blake!
Margot? No.
Margot. Not.
Let’s get outs bullpen!
https://twitter.com/Ned2point0/status/1319827486528647171?s=20
How many dozens of times do you suppose Rays announcers have said as this new pitcher comes in, “the sheriff’s coming in to restore order.”
12? Only because then it would be (a) gross.
snort!
Got. Him. Double digit K’s.
Lowe is overmatched.
Last batter for Walker?
Prolly.
I thought you said Polly for a second.
86 pitches for Walker.
So I think 11 different Dodgers have homered this post-season. Just missing Pollock and Beaty.
Beaty has two HBPs, though.
Lowe looks overmatched.
They’re starting to hit Walker. Maybe he can get the DP stop here with Lowe.
Still throwing fast, though.
Good inning.
I can proudly say I was happy to see Barnes starting tonight
Framer deluxe to maximize pitching advantage.
Two outs. We love our two outs.
Living on the edge.
Barnes is not an automatic out.
Only when he sacrifices.
Bunter Barnes Blast!
Versatile stick!
Barnesy!!!
Barnes?????
Barnesie!!!
Inning over.
Good to have a weak hitter up after that.
Buehler has made most of them look like weak hitters tonight.
Location
Unconvinced that hit the bat.
Doesn’t matter. K.
After a few more pitches.
K.
Half. Way. Home.
See ya’ later Charlie. Or not.
Ideally, he’ll not get another chance.
Exactly.
Payback for his 2017 goodness.
*cheatiness.
Get runners on and Morton could be gone.
Pretty high pitch count. Make their ‘pen work a bit now.
Less salt is good for Dodger health
Sea(ger) salt is good.
When he reigns we pour.
Vin lets loose his inner Roger Ebert.
https://twitter.com/TheVinScully/status/1319738112793284615
Best part of For the Love of the Game – is definitely Vin Scully!!
How are you doing on your walk RBI? Feeling at peace with the world – or at least this game?
I am back and somewhat relaxed, thank you!
Walker checked his fingers in the dugout.
That’s – not great. Although, if he could go one more – with this lead – Dodgers could pull him. Wrap him up for now.
A couple of loud outs.
K.
Ladies and gentlemen, your 1965 Dodgers in action!
Hopefully it doesn’t take 7 games to win it.
This Choi guy is very good.
For a gordo, incredbily agile.
Choi ballet
Slide man. Slide. Lol
One of few cases where sliding into first makes sense.
Would that be a call the 1st base coach would make? Seager is running with his head down amd maybe doesn’t see the throw sailing high…
Late decision to slide has injury written all over it
You are not wrong.
I think baserunner has to read first baseman’s approach
Ok thanks. Good to know.
Mind you, easy for me to say.
Nice steal. Another single will score another run.
Morton at 75 pitches.
He has been a-salted
And Seager up!
5-0!
Small ball. Medium ball. Long ball. Good work Dodgers.
Stolen base
Speed. Contact. Contact with power.
Morton gets squeezed!
Hahaha!
BBarnes comes through
Barnesy bunt!
Nice bunt!
Nicely done Joctober.
Shoulda been a double, though.
Joc slipped I guess.
Supposedly fell down but considering the ball went off the tip of the first baseman’s glove, everything worked out.
Joc hammer.
Alright let’s keep hitting this righty.
Keeping the pressure on.
Nice swing by Belli.
The box score for that half inning doesn’t paint the picture we watched.
That’s for sure.
JT MVP!
That would be great!
DP!
Good future person! That ball was scorched.
It was a rocket for sure!
Shouldn’t walk a weak hitter like Kiermaier.
He went.
No, he didn’t.
Oh. Okay.
You should challenge!
If that foul ball was a home run after the half swing no call……
Max!
Pandemic hair update:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d5a0d268358cba54e13e8d2bb238076220e84a7b9f3e524da0a4ff4573a522a1.jpg
Looking sharp!
Mine was longer, but my wife intimidated me into letting her cut it.
I didn’t want Seager to stop at third on Turner’s double. Shucks, I didn’t get what I wished for.
On replay looked like a good decision by Dino.
yep
LF got ball in quickly, and Seager’s no burner.
Good (half) inning!
Willie just missed.
3-0!!
Yes!!!
Pitch count going back up
Just a single Max
Indeed.
JT on second, though.
A long single then. Lol
There you go!
Or even a short single with two outs
In the gap, so outfielder had to move laterally instead of forward. Slow JT is also protecting his hammy.
JT doubling!
Things to read between innings: a remembrance of the Dodgers’ famous infield. In sabremetric terms Cey was the most valuable with a 53.3 WAR. Lopes had a 42.0 WAR, Garvey stood at 37.6 WAR and Russell at 31.3.
When I saw Ron in 8th grade, I could tell he was that good.
Morton keeps trying to hit Seager
Hopefully Seager can reverse that soon and hit Morton.
Asterisk fans in the stands. Shudders.
Not that I mind all the HRs from Seager. But I kinda miss the classic doubles from him.
Ahh – who am I kidding – the bombs are better.
Lucky Walker is on top of his game
Let’s get some action going Mookie.
And another
K!
Ferris’s looking really good.
K.
Red Sox catching flak for trading Mookie Betts.
Verdugo is pretty joyful.
I think Sawx fans have underrated him. If he were still a Dodger, he’d be starting almost every Series game.
Boston did not get fleeced. The Dodgers got the top name in the deal but gave good value to get him.
But as a Dodger fan, I do that deal every time.
They are probably just too cranky to give him a chance
Tat so?
Jane is great by the way. Friend of a friend. Gave a great talk on her Babe book at the Smithsonian. As well, author of the Sandy book.
8 pitch inning. Let’s work it more in the third Dodgers.
That ball came right back to the catcher.
Nice start-part 2
Swing, Lowe, Sweet . . .
Come for to send you back to the bench…
I’m thinking his blisters are better.
Maybe even gone
Sweet K to get Randy A.
Walker!
Sweet K to get Lowe.
Absolutely filthy
If that gets JT untracked it will be a big help.
22 pitches for Charlie.
Nice start.
Wow!
Let’s goooo!
Sorry Charlie!
JT!!!
JT!!!!
Nice fielding. And RBI missed seeing Ji-Man doing the splits.
Heard it and smiled, up in Griffith Park.
Splitsville.
Dodgers have to win at least one “on the road”, hopefully two, ideally three.
Alineación de hoy. https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1319723271273598976?s=20