Kenley Jansen gave up a walk-off single to Brett Phillips in the bottom of the ninth that allowed Kevin Kiermaier and Randy Arozarena to score runs in the Dodgers’ 8-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the World Series.
The series is tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Sunday.
Dodgers suffer stunning 8-7 walk-off loss to Rays in Game 4 of World Series
ARLINGTON, Texas — The ball left Kenley Jansen’s right hand at 92 mph, with movement, over the inside part of the plate to Brett Phillips, a bench player with a .202 career batting average on the Tampa Bay Rays’ World Series roster to play defense and run the bases.
It ricocheted off Phillips’ bat at 82.8 mph into shallow center field at Globe Life Field, ensuring that the Rays, down to their last out, had at least tied the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series. Then chaos erupted. The ball bounced off the heel of Chris Taylor’s glove, suddenly opening a crack for the Rays. It came down to Randy Arozarena’s legs.
Arozarena, the Rays’ postseason dynamo, started the play at first base and dashed around third once he saw Taylor’s gaffe. Then, three-quarters down the baseline, he tripped. Helmet off, he started retreating to third base — until he saw catcher Will Smith fail to catch a relay throw at the plate. The ball bounced away, far enough to allow Arozarena to reverse course and reverse this series.
Arozarena slid in headfirst to give the Rays an improbable 8-7 win. He pounded home plate with his right hand as Phillips was chased down by teammates in celebration in left field. The Dodgers around him were left stunned. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looked on in disbelief over the dugout railing.
The final play of the Dodgers’ 8-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the World Series.
Dodgers lose to Tampa Bay Rays after two blunders on final play
The Dodgers lost in shocking fashion to the Tampa Bay Rays in the ninth inning of Game 4, allowing two runs to score on a two-out single by Brett Phillips in the bottom of the ninth inning to fall, 8-7.
Phillips laced a single to center field that allowed Kevin Kiermaier to score from second. However, Chris Taylor mishandled the ball, allowing Randy Arozarena to challenge for home — and then go for it after Dodgers catcher Will Smith failed to catch the throw to home.
In a rush to tag Arozarena, who was still far away from the plate, Smith failed to make a catch before sweeping to the left, thinking he had the ball in his glove and that Arozarena was feet away from the plate. With the ball shooting past him and behind home plate, Arozarena came to a sliding stop at home plate to score the winning run.
The play must be seen to be believed.
The series is tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Sunday.
Kenley Jansen takes the mound in the bottom of the ninth
Kenley Jansen is warming up in the bullpen and will take the mound in the bottom of the ninth.
Not much happened at the plate for the Dodgers in the top of the inning, with Joc Pederson hitting a two-out single to second before Chris Taylor popped out to right.
What version of Jansen will Dodgers fans see? The world is about to find out.
Adam Kolarek and Brusdar Graterol take care of business
It got a little close, but the Dodgers managed to get out of the eighth inning without giving up another run.
After Adam Kolarek walked Ji-Man Choi to open the inning, he managed to get Austin Meadows to fly out to center field before striking out Brandon Lowe.
Brusdar Graterol then entered the game and gave up a single to Willy Adames before the inning ended with Hunter Renfroe flying out to right field.
Dodgers take the lead again on Corey Seager’s fourth hit of game
Corey Seager puts the Dodgers back into the lead with a flair to shallow left field — his fourth hit of the game — to drive in Chris Taylor and give the Dodgers a 7-6 advantage in the eighth inning with two outs.
Taylor reached base on a lead-off double off the center field wall.
The Dodgers have scored 57 runs with two outs since the start of the postseason. All seven of their runs tonight have come with two outs.
Kevin Kiermaier homers. Game is tied again.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Annnnnd we’re tied again. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Kevin Kiermaier hammers a solo home run to right field off a Pedro Báez changeup. It’s Báez’s second home run allowed tonight, and the fourth the Rays have hit in the game. The no-doubt blast ties the game at 6-6.
Joc Pederson delivers. Dodgers re-take the lead
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dodgers are back in front. With the bases loaded and two outs, Joc Pederson came into the game as a pinch-hitter and gave the Dodgers the lead, roping a two-run single into right field that deflected off the glove of a diving Brandon Lowe, who was shifted into the shallow outfield.
Cody Bellinger, who was intentionally walked in the previous at-bat, was thrown out trying to advance to third, but both runs had scored by then. It’s 6-5 Dodgers at the seventh-inning stretch.
Dodgers threatening in the seventh; Rays make a pitching change
ARLINGTON, Texas — Rays left-hander Aaron Loup entered the game to begin the seventh, but he won’t finish it. After allowing a leadoff single to Corey Seager, Justin Turner doubled in the next at-bat. Loup struck out left-handed hitting Max Muncy for the first out, but then was relieved by bullpen ace Nick Anderson. Will Smith and Cody Bellinger are due up next for the Dodgers, who still trail 5-4 with one out in the seventh.
Rays take the lead on Brandon Lowe’s three-run homer
ARLINGTON, Texas — For the first time tonight, the Dodgers are behind. In a 2-and-2 count, Brandon Lowe hit a three-run homer the other way, turning a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 Rays lead. Two of those runs are charged to Blake Treinen, the other to Pedro Báez, who tried to beat Lowe with a fastball.
Treinen gets in trouble in the sixth; Báez on in relief
ARLINGTON, Texas — Blake Treinen got in trouble in the sixth, ceding a leadoff single to Randy Arozarena before walking pinch-hitter Ji-Man Choi. He did strike out another pinch-hitter, Austin Meadows, for the first out. But he will go no further.
Dave Roberts is bringing Pedro Báez in to face Brandon Lowe. The Dodgers still lead 4-2.
Another Dodgers run, again scored with two outs
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dodgers are back up by two courtesy of Kiké Hernández’s RBI double with, you guessed it, two outs. After falling behind Diego Castillo 1-and-2, Hernández pulled a hanging slider down the left-field line to score Will Smith, who led off the inning with a walk.
Mookie Betts had a chance to add on to the lead with runners at second and third, but flied out to end the inning. The Dodgers lead 4-2 midway through the sixth. Still, all of their runs have scored with two outs.
Diego Castillo enters in the sixth for the Rays
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rays didn’t have a defined closer this year, but Diego Castillo was close to it. He got four saves in the regular season, second-most on the team, and has finished the game in five of his eight appearances in the postseason.
Tonight, however, the Rays have brought him into the game to begin the sixth, hoping he can keep the Dodgers’ lead at one.
Julio Urías’ night ends with two outs in the fifth; Treinen on in relief
ARLINGTON, Texas — Julio Urías struck out the next two batters after allowing the Renfroe home run, but his night ends there. With the top of the Rays lineup coming up for a third time, Dave Roberts summons Blake Treinen from the bullpen, who needed only one pitch to get third out of the inning.
Urías’ final line: 4 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts (a playoff career high)
Rays back within one on Hunter Renfroe’s home run
ARLINGTON, Texas — Julio Urías has only allowed three earned runs this postseason. All three have been via the home run. For the second-straight inning, Urías allows a leadoff home run in the fifth, this time to Hunter Renfroe on a high fly ball deep to left.
The Dodgers’ lead is back down to one, with LA leading 3-2. Blake Treinen, who was warming up even before the home run, continues to get loose in the bullpen.
Dodgers score with two outs again
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dodgers scored again with two outs. After Corey Seager singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, he slid home on a Max Muncy single to right.
Muncy was thrown out trying to advance to second, but the Dodgers make it 3-1 nonetheless. All three of their runs have come with two outs.
Arozarena puts Rays on the board, takes sole ownership of postseason home run record
ARLINGTON, Texas — Corey Seager’s stay atop the single-postseason home run leaderboard didn’t last long. Randy Arozarena, who entered the night with eight home runs of his own in these playoffs, now has the record to himself, hitting the first pitch of the fourth inning over the wall in right center.
It trims the Dodgers lead in half, making it 2-1 LA.
Rays turn to bullpen in the fourth
ARLINGTON, Texas — Rays starter Ryan Yarbrough lasts just 3 1/3 innings. After allowing a one-out double to AJ Pollock in the fourth, Yarbrough was relieved by right-handed reliever Ryan Thompson.
Thompson was able to strand Pollock at second, striking out Chris Taylor and inducing an inning-ending groundout from Kiké Hernández – a rare two-out RBI opportunity squandered by the Dogders.
Julio Urías racking up strikeouts
ARLINGTON, Texas — Julio Urías has been locked in so far tonight. Through three scoreless innings, the right-hander has allowed only one walk, one hit and struck out five. All five punch outs have been with the fastball. Of his 49 pitches, 35 have been strikes.
Seager goes deep, matching the all-time postseason HR record
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dodgers have hit another two-out home run, with Corey Seager making it 2-0 Dodgers by hammering his eighth home run of the postseason. That ties MLB’s all-time record for home runs in a single postseason:
It also extends the Dodgers’ record for runs scored with two outs in a postseason, giving them 52 in these playoffs.
The Dodgers set this record too...
Betts makes another leaping catch
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mookie Betts has taken away another extra-base hit, this time robbing the Rays’ Brandon Lowe by leaping for a 109-mph line drive in right.
It helped Julio Urías complete his second inning facing the minimum number of batters. He’s only thrown 28 pitches. Dodgers lead 1-0.
Dodgers keep it in the infield during scoreless second
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Dodgers gave the Rays’ infield a workout during the second inning. Will Smith reached first on a leadoff chopper that stayed in the infield. Cody Bellinger made contact on an excuse-me swing, lifting a soft pop up to the third-base side of the mound that Rays pitcher Ryan Yarbrough had to run and catch. And then AJ Pollock had a swinging bunt that catcher Mike Zunino retrieved and threw to the first.
Chris Taylor struck out to end the inning. It remains 1-0 Dodgers.
Randy Arozarena caught stealing to end the first
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dodgers didn’t wait for the official call during the replay review before leaving the field. After Rays baserunner Randy Arozarena was initially ruled safe trying to steal second base with two outs, the replay showed that Will Smith’s throw and Kiké Hernández’s tag had gotten Arozarena in time, ending the inning with the Dodgers 1-0 lead intact.
Turner homers, claims franchise playoff HR record
ARLINGTON, Texas — Justin Turner now stands alone atop the Dodgers’ career postseason home run list. For the second straight night, Turner hit a two-out solo home run in the first inning. It is Turner’s 12th career playoff home run with the Dodgers, passing Duke Snider for the most in franchise history. Turner is also the first player in World Series history to hit home runs in the first inning of back-to-back games.
What to know about Dodgers-Rays World Series Game 4
First pitch: 5:08 p.m. PT
TV: FOX
Lineups:
Dodgers notes: Julio Urías will make his second start of the postseason and fifth outing of the playoffs overall. In his start in Game 3 of the NLCS, he allowed one run over five innings. His last time out was in Game 7 of the NLCS, when he pitched three scorless inning to close out the series. He has earned a win in all four of his appearances. “I don’t think he feels pressure,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He likes the big moment and to be quite honest, whatever game it is, he’s kind of the same every day, which I really like.” ... The Dodgers will trot out a right-handed heavy lineup, putting AJ Pollock and Kiké Hernández back in the batting order against left-handed starter Ryan Yarbrough. … The Dodgers did make a late lineup change, moving Cody Bellinger into the designated hitter’s spot and putting Pollock in center field.
Rays notes: With the left-handed Urías on the mound, Rays manager Kevin Cash had also loaded up on right-handed batters, putting seven of them in his lineup, including each of the first four. What will be the key to facing Urías? “The hope on our side is to find a way to not allow him to get into rhythm,” Cash said. “Get him out of rhythm really early. Challenge him with some really good at-bats, get some baserunners on, put some balls in play. We don’t want to see the fastball-changeup at the top of the zone and then back-footing [the slider] to right-handers.”
Justin Turner restores his World Series groove and sparks Dodgers in win
Every time Justin Turner used to heat up, the rest of the Dodgers lineup would go cold.
It came as constant as the changing of the seasons, a frustration that accompanied the Dodgers’ playoff failures each fall.
But this year, things are finally different. For the first time, Turner has gone through October in a slump — and the Dodgers are two wins from a title nonetheless.
Dodgers’ Austin Barnes matches World Series bunt, homer feat not done since 1961
The year was 1961, and the New York Yankees were in the World Series again. It was the year Roger Maris hit 61 home runs, breaking Babe Ruth’s record that had lasted beyond the Great Depression, the Second World War and the integration of the major leagues.
Maris and Mickey Mantle were the leading men on the Yankees. Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford were headliners too. Who remembers Hector Lopez?
The year is 2020, and the Dodgers are in the World Series again. The Dodgers are the team of Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, of Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, of Corey Seager and Justin Turner. Who is going to remember Austin Barnes?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is on the verge of silencing his critics
He’s taken more blame for the Dodgers’ recent failures than anyone else.
If any of the relievers imploded, it was because of Dave Roberts, not the front office that packed the bullpen with rejects and unproven youngsters. If the offense failed to score, that was also because of Roberts, not the chokers with the bats in their hands.
As the criticisms mounted, the view of Roberts changed to where large segments of this city didn’t believe the Dodgers would ever win a World Series with him as their manager.
The story is about to change.
Welcome to Doctober.
Dodgers put on a show and return World Series to status quo in Game 3
There, that’s more like it.
Whew, sigh, dizzying and daring Dodgers normalcy has returned to the World Series.
Two days after tumbling, the greatest baseball show on Earth took flight again Friday, spinning the Tampa Bay Rays silly with an eye-popping array of baseball acrobatics.
The Dodgers won Game 3, 6-2, while taking a two-games-to-one lead with the sort of diverse dominance that surely left the Rays wondering.
How can they possibly gain control of this countless-ring circus?
Brusdar Graterol embracing the Mamba Mentality with custom Kobe cleats
If Brusdar Graterol pitches in Game 4 for the Dodgers perhaps he’ll be thinking of Kobe Bryant when he looks skyward after the end of an inning.
The hardball Dodgers reliever will be wearing special cleats tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays that pay tribute to the lives of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. The cleats have a very Lakers-esque look and should stand out quite a bit from the Dodgers’ road gray uniforms.
Kobe’s World Series cameo could be short, though. Graterol made quick work of the Rays in Game 3, retiring the side on seven pitches in the eighth inning to aid the Dodgers in their 6-2 win.
Dodgers vs. Rays Game 4 lineups: Cody Bellinger to DH because of back tightness
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dodgers planned on rolling with their usual lineup against left-handed pitchers in Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday until making a change just over an hour before first pitch.
Cody Bellinger, who was originally slated to start in center field, was moved to designated hitter. AJ Pollock, the DH in the Dodgers’ original lineup, will play center field.
Dodgers jump on Rays early, ride Walker Buehler to World Series Game 3 victory
Key plays from the Dodgers’ 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Walker Buehler strutted off the mound Friday night as if this wasn’t the World Series, as if 10 strikeouts in six innings was nothing, as if these kinds of overpowering performances in his sport’s grandest setting are ordinary.
They aren’t ordinary for most pitchers, but most pitchers don’t boast the resume Buehler has drafted in his young major league career. He is a big-game pitcher in every sense of the overused descriptor. He provided more evidence in the Dodgers’ thorough 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series at Globe Life Field.
Buehler held the Rays to one run and three hits across six frames behind an explosive fastball in the high 90s. He walked one and became the seventh pitcher in franchise history to compile double-digit strikeouts in a World Series game. By the end of the night, the right-hander had a 1.80 earned-run average with 39 strikeouts in 25 innings across five outings in these playoffs, despite dealing with blisters on his right index and middle fingers since late August.
Dodgers starter Julio Urías won’t have family at Game 4, but support is a call away
The father of Julio Urías drove 13 hours overnight from his home in the Mexican state of Sinaloa to Phoenix to see his 18-year-old son make his spring-training debut, a 1 2/3-inning scoreless appearance for the Dodgers in March 2015.
So one can imagine how agonizing it will be for Carlos Urías to not be at Globe Life Field on Saturday night when Julio, now a 24-year-old Dodgers left-hander, makes the biggest start of his life in Game 4 of the World Series against Tampa Bay.
“My dad, he’s a baseball addict. We’re always in contact,” Urías said in Spanish before Game 3 on Friday night. “I got advice from him. He’s the coach who knows me best. He knows when I’m right, when I’m wrong, and really to remember those good moments we had together, him as my coach, me as his player.”