Morton cannot limit the damage against the dangerous Dodgers lineup. Rays lose Game 3 and now trial the Dodgers 2-1 in the series.
Game 3 of the World Series did not go according to plan if you’re the Tampa Bay Rays. In a 6-2 defeat, the Rays couldn’t get anything going offensively. Charlie Morton wasn’t playoff Charlie F’in Morton tonight, but with how Los Angeles Dodgers starter Walker Buehler pitched, I don’t know if it was going to matter.
“When you’re facing a guy like Buehler, what we saw today, there’s really no margin of error,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the game.
Of the previous 59 occasions that the World Series has been tied 1-1, the Game 3 winner has gone onto win the series 64.4% of the time (38 times).
Morton struggles
Morton lasted just 4.1 innings allowing five runs on seven hits to this loaded Dodgers lineup. Justin Turner got things going for the Dodgers in the first inning with a solo shot to left field. He followed that up with a third inning double to get Corey Seager to third that set up a two-RBI single for Max Muncy.
In the fifth inning, down 5-0, Morton was pulled from the game after a one-out walk to Muncy.
“I wasn’t particularly sharp,” Morton said after the game. “I felt like I was able to get to two strikes pretty quickly with a lot of guys and just not able to put them away.”
Other than the sac bunt, LA has scored all of its runs against the #Rays with not only two outs, but two strikes.
— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) October 24, 2020
This is the first loss Morton has received since Game 3 of the 2017 ALCS. He was 7-0 in his prior nine starts since then.
Buehler’s brilliant start
It really didn’t matter how good or bad Morton was — or could have been — because the way that Buehler pitched tonight, it likely wasn’t going to matter. Buehler was in complete control from the get-go tonight as he went six strong innings striking out 10 Rays hitters. He allowed just one run on three hits.
Walker Buehler was mowing 'em down tonight 🔥
1️⃣0️⃣ strikeouts for the @Dodgers ace! @buehlersdayoff pic.twitter.com/i3LJuE39ff
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 24, 2020
Arozarena does it again
With two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning down 6-1, Randy Arozarena hit a missile to left field for his eighth home run of the postseason, tying the all-time record. His homer was his 23rd hit of the postseason which broke Derek Jeter’s rookie record for most hits in a single postseason.
EIGHT HR for Randy this #postseason.
That ties an MLB record. pic.twitter.com/ZfFxf5Tflm
— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2020
Arozarena’s home run had an exit velocity of 111.3 mph, which was the hardest hit ball of the night.
Up Next
Saturday nights game 4 will feature the Dodgers and Julio Urias (4-0; 0.56) taking on the Rays who will start Ryan Yarbrough (1-0; 3.38). First pitch is again scheduled for 8:08 PM ET and can be seen on FOX.
Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @EvansEric10 for all your Tamp Bay Rays updates. And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for some behind the scenes interviews! Also, big shout out to Jamie for the awesome photo from the World Series!
