After the most nailbiting game of the whole playoffs, it was going to be interesting to see how game five turned out. The pitching matchup was the same as game one; Tyler Glasnow v. Clayton Kersha. Even though the Rays ripped the Dodgers’ hearts from their chest in game four, they came out firing. That was all Kershaw needed. The Dodgers secured the win (4-2) with another inspiring performance by the future Hall of Famer.
Tyler Glasnow (5IP 6H 4ER 3BB 7K 102PC 1L) pitched better than in game one. Unfortunately, the Rays needed him to be in top form for this game, and he was not. Glasnow’s miscues were the slight edge the Dodgers needed to come up on top. Glasnow gave up three of his four runs in the first two innings. The bullpen started the 6th inning and didn’t allow any runs, although the damage had been done.
The Rays had a chance to tie this game up in the bottom of the fourth when OF Manuel Margot walked to start the inning. He then used his speed to steal second and get to third on an error by 2B Chris Taylor. Margot was on third with no outs, and the game was 2-3. The next batter walked, then two quick outs. This forced Margot to try to take the game into his own hands, but Kershaw was ready for the steal, and Margot was tagged at home.
Clayton Kershaw (5.2IP 5H 2ER 6K 2BB 85PC 1W) wasn’t as dominant as he was in his first start of the World Series, but he was still outstanding. He didn’t allow the Rays’ offense to get any momentum going. This win brings Kershaw’s postseason victory record to a whopping four games. A lot of blame has been put on Kershaw for the Dodgers’ past postseason failure, but in 2020 he is one of the main reasons they are in the World Series at all.
The Dodgers’ offense jumped on Glasnow early to set the tone for this game. OF Mookie Betts worked his first at-bat for eight pitches and doubled for his first hit. SS Corey Seagar, took in all Glasnow’s pitches while waiting on a deck and smashed the second pitch he saw for a long single that brought in Betts and put the Dodgers up 1-0 after two batters. The Dodgers would add on three more runs and cruised to victory.