Clayton and Mookie Lead LAD Over Rays in Game 1

The Franchise opened the 2020 World Series and had a game fairly reminiscent of his 2017 Game 1 against the Assterisks.  Back in his home town, Clayton Kershaw threw a non-stressful 6.0 innings, and left with an 8-1 lead.  He allowed 1 run on 2 hits.  He issued a one out walk to Randy Arozarena in the first, and then proceeded to sit down 13 consecutive batters before Kevin Kiermaier hit a line drive solo HR in the top of the 5^th to cut the Dodgers lead in half.  Kershaw threw another 3 up and 3 down 6^th and his night was over. 

This was also a big night for the future HOF LHSP as he delivered 8 strikeouts.  What made the strikeouts more meaningful was that when he struck out Willy Adames in the 5^th, he notched his 200^th postseason K, surpassing John Smoltz, moving into 2^nd place on the all-time postseason strikeout list.  Next up on the list is Justin Verlander at 205.  I actually hope he has to wait until 2021, which would mean the Dodgers will have swept the Rays in 4.

CK had a tough first three hitters, giving up a single to Yandy Diaz and with one out, walking Arozarena putting runners on 1^st and 2^nd.  CK was having issues with his slider in the first.  Even Clayton mentioned that he was spiking the slider in the first.  The slider started to become sharp in the 2^nd, and Kershaw elevated his game.  He was dominant.  Maybe CK was listening to a lot of his “advisors” as he was pitching to all four quadrants, rather than concentrating on his glove side. 

With all of his distractors about his October meltdowns, for the 2020 postseason, Clayton has quietly gone 3-1 with his four starts, a 2.88 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, in 25 innings.  He has 31 strikeouts against only 3 walks.  Clayton has quieted a lot of his October demons and doubters.  This was Clayton’s third WS Game 1 start, and two have been masterful (2017 and 2020).  Granted his 2018 Game 1 start was a real stinker, and Game 5 was not much better.  With how the Dodgers are stacked for the future, I am confident that CK is going to get a lot more opportunities to build on his postseason numbers. 

I could write about the masterpiece Kershaw spun in Game 1 a lot longer, but there were a multitude of other achievements that need to be recognized. 

After three uneventful innings, the Dodgers put up crooked numbers in the middle three.  It startewith a leadoff walk to Muncy and after one out, Cody Bellinger absolutely crushes the first pitch in this AB for a two-run HR and a 2-0 LAD lead they would never relinquish.  I do not know if it was his shoulder, but this was a different swing for Belli.  He got a great pitch that Glasnow could not get inside enough, and Belli seemed in total control from the start of the swing throughout.  In the FS1 post game show, ARod made a great comment about how balanced Cody looked in Game 1.  He seemed to be in control of his swing, and I hope that this is a prelude to the next three 2020 WS LAD wins. 

It was important for the Dodgers to get out in front and stay there.  The Rays have won their last 63 games when leading after the 7^th.  Their bullpen is special, especially late in the game.

Remarkably, the Dodgers scored 4 runs in the 5^th without a HR.  They turned a pair of walks to Mookie and Seager, three stolen bases (2 by Mookie and 1 by Seager), and a fielders choice groundball that Mookie beat the throw to the plate and a 3-1 lead.  Three singles by Fresh Prince, CT3, and Kike’ gives the Dodgers 3 more runs.  The big boppers turn 2 walks, 3 stolen bases,  and 3 singles into 4 runs. 

Tyler Glasnow’s night was done after Will Smith’s single.  LHRP, Ryan Yarbrough, a key Rays reliever, relieved Glasnow and offered up the CT3 and Kike’ single to finish up the pitching line for Glasnow.  Glasnow went 4.1 IP, allowed 6 runs on 3 hits and 6 walks.  He also K’d 8 Dodgers.  He did all of this and threw 112 pitches, several reaching 100 MPH, in those 4.1 IP.  I will not speculate as to whether Glasnow will be available in future games, or if he is, how effective he will be. 

Yarbrough was done after the 5^th, throwing 19 pitches.  Another LHRP, Josh Fleming, replaced Yarbrough.  The first pitch Fleming threw Mookie put it into the RF stands for his 1^st LAD postseason HR.  Back to back doubles by JT and Max Muncy scored another run.  It was this second run that apparently ended the night for Kershaw. Even though Kershaw pitched an effortless 78 pitches, Doc felt comfortable with an 8-1 lead that he decided to end his outing.  Unfortunately, as Doc is inclined to do, he did not have his reliever warming up, and Floro was probably not ready when he was asked to enter.  He got Austin Meadows on a strikeout.  He then surrendered a single to Margot, and a booming double to Joey Wendle.   Even though it was well hit, and Belli ran a mile, he was not able to make the catch as he was closing in on the fence rather quickly and seemed to back off a bit (shoulder, maybe?)  After the game, it seemed like Belli offered up that he should have caught the ball, but he was concerned where the fence was.  Doc did not get his next reliever up in time again…Victor Gonzalez.  Victor did not appear to be sufficiently warm and his slider was flat.  He gave up two sharp singles that scored both runs he inherited.  The next batter he faced, Mike Zunino, hit a 105 MPH blur on a line right back at him, that VGon was able to double up Mike Brosseau at 2B to get out of the inning.

Pedro Baez entered the 8^th and got a quick 3 up and 3 down. He threw only one fastball and several sliders and changeups.  He is also working a lot faster than he used to do.  Joe Kelly was tasked to finish up.  Austin Meadows, who is having a poor 2020 and even poorer postseason, slugged a drive to CF that Belli was able to catch up to and make another one of his patented Belli catches.  Kelly retired the next two batters he faced, and Game 1 was in the books.  Kelly went back to his 96-97 MPH fastball, and threw only two knuckle curves.

Tyler Glasnow was wild, and Clayton Kershaw was efficient and effortless.  The first two relievers for both sides had early issues, with the Rays’ Josh Fleming figuring it out after four batters.  He seemed to run out of gas in the 8^th, and the Rays’ 3^rd reliever, John Curtiss came in to strike out Will Smith to finish up an 8^th inning threat.  The keys to the game were the Dodgers starting pitching, Dodger bats, Dodgers speed on the bases, and Dodgers defense.  Belli made another good defensive catch in CF, but in the 6^th, JT made a diving stab at a hard ground ball off the bat of Yandy Diaz and was able to throw him out while still on the ground.  The relievers for the Dodgers were able to get the job done even if it was with a little anxiety.  Mookie, Max Muncy, and CT3 each had 2 hits.  Mookie and Belli both went deep.  Muncy has come under a little scrutiny during his ho-hum postseason but went 2-4, plus a walk, 2 RBIs, and NO STRIKEOUTS.

Pitcher of the Game – Clayton Kershaw

Player of the Game – Mookie Betts – 2 for 4, 2 runs, 1 HR, 2 stolen bases, and a head first slide to beat a throw to the plate to score run #3. 

• Rays – 3 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors
• Dodgers – 8 runs, 10 hits, 0 errors

FINAL SCORE – Dodgers 8 – Rays 3 – Dodgers lead series 1-0