In a game that the Rays needed to win more than anyone is likely willing to admit, the big dawgs came though in a big way. Lowe’s slump is officially busted as his two homer game evens the World Series at one game a piece.
Game 2 of the 2020 World Series goes to the Tampa Bay Rays as they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers by a score of 6-4. Led by the bat of Brandon Lowe and the arm of Blake Snell, the Rays have evened this series heading into Game 3 Friday night, with Lowe ending his slump in dramatic fashion.
“To say that my mind wasn’t going different places during that kind of struggle would be lying to you,” Lowe responded when asked about his struggles. “I wasn’t feeling too good, but that’s what’s so great about this team. As soon as I started dragging my feet, someone was there to pick me up. It was pure joy going into that dugout after hitting that home run.”
Lowe’s struggles this postseason have not gone unnoticed and even after tonight’s games he’s still hitting .131 in his 61 at-bats. However, Rays manager Kevin Cash has never shied away from his All-Star slugger.
Oppo taco x2
“Sometimes you have to allow guys to go through some tough patches and he’s been in one,” Rays manager Kevin Cash replied when asked about Lowe still hitting atop the Rays lineup. “But man it was exciting for the first home run. And the second one really ignited him.”
It just got Lowe’d here pic.twitter.com/rxWuiK3uhr
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 22, 2020
Lowe’s solo shot in the top of the first inning gave the Rays a 1-0 lead. A lead that they never game back. After a Joey Wendle two-run double in the fourth inning, Lowe followed that up with a two-run homer in the fifth and the Rays led 5-0. Both of Lowe’s home runs went to the opposite field and they traveled a combined 791 feet. He’s a dawg.
Snell back to CYzilla
A truly dominant start to this game for Blake Snell. This was exactly the start the Rays needed from their former Cy Young award winner.
“He was outstanding,” Cash said when asked about Snell’s performance. “Blake was really, really good. I know him and Kyle [Snyder] talked a lot leading into the game about a game plan. He followed it. He executed pitches. The slider looked like it was a really big weapon for him. He was awesome. Gave us everything we needed.”
Blake Snell's stuff is lookin' dirty tonight 👀Big strikeout to get out of the inning!
Watch More: https://t.co/wThupaIvbJ pic.twitter.com/UZ419mvBVY
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 22, 2020
Snell went 4.2 innings of no hit baseball — against the Dodgers. In Game 2 of the World Series when his team needed him to dominate, he delivered.
“I just wanted to attack them,” Snell said about his start. “Make them start swinging. I felt like I had a good game plan. I felt like I did a good job.”
Snell ran into a little bit of trouble in the in the fifth when he allowed a walk to Enrique Hernandez followed by a two-run homer to Chris Taylor — his first hit allowed in the game — a walk to Mookie Betts and then a single to Corey Seager.
But overall, that’s a start the Rays will sign-up for again. He finished the day with 4.2 innings, 2 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 walks and 9 strikeouts.
Up Next
With a rare off day in these 2020 playoffs, game 3 is scheduled for Friday at 8:08 PM ET. This game will feature two of the best pitchers this postseason as Walker Buehler (1-0; 1.89) takes the mound for the Dodgers and Charlie Morton (3-0; 0.57) will do the same for the Rays.
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