The Dodgers have been in this position before, one game between them and a World Series championship. The last time they were in the World Series was in 2017 and they blew game seven to the Houston Astros. This is the third time in the last four years that the Dodgers have made the World Series, and it was finally their time. They did not have an easy task in game six as 2018 Cy Young winner Blake Snell took the mound. The Dodgers were pitching Tony Gonsolin as an opener and needed just enough of a pitchers duel to win the game. The Brooklyn Dodgers won the 2020 World Series 3-1.
The Tampa Bay Rays put up a good fight this season, but most people will be questioning manager Kevin Cash’s weird decision to pull his big horse, Blake Snell, in the 6th inning. Snell (5.1IP 2H 1ER 0BB 9K 73PC) was straight up dealing, and no Dodger looked good against him. Inexplicably, Cash took him out in the 6th inning after giving up his second hit of the game.
The other weird thing was that Snell wasn’t laboring; he only had 73 pitches and pitched on full rest. I know the Rays use analytics exceptionally well, but this was a game that all you had to do was use your eyes and go with your gut. The next three batters that were on deck to face Snell were 0-6 with six strikeouts. They should have just let this man pitch instead of bringing in another pitcher who, of course, blew the game.
Manager Dave Roberts went with a weird choice to start game six. Tony Gonsolin (1.2IP 3H 1ER 2BB 4K 48PC) had not been that great in this postseason, but Roberts had a plan that worked beautifully tonight. The bullpen (7.1IP 2H 0ER 0BB 12K 86PC 1W 1SV) was terrific and deserved most of the credit. Roberts made a huge decision to end this game with his young starting pitcher instead of his veteran closer, and it paid off.
Julio Urias (2.1IP 0H 0ER 0BB 4K 27PC) was lights out in the most intense moment in baseball. This was his first trip to the World Series, so for Dave Roberts to trust him to end this crucial game to bring home the title. And OF Mookie Betts (2-4 2R 1RBI 1HR) capped his fantastic season by scoring the last insurance run with his home run in the bottom of the 8th inning.
The Dodgers were my pick to win it all when the season started, and I’m glad this team finally got to win a World Series because it began to feel like the Buffalo Bills of the’90s. It was a strange year, but the Dodgers lived up to expectations to take down the 2020 World Series.