GAME THREE RECAP AND SOME RANDOM PLAYOFF THOUGHTS:

 Showdown between the Rays top pitcher, Charlie Morton (Joe Buck will tell you over and over again that he’s absolutely great!) and Walker Buehler.   As in most games, the Dodgers had several objectives: 

•             1.         get off to a good start;
•             2.         run up Morton’s pitch count;
•             3.         Keep Buehler’s pitch count down;
•             4.         Keep the Rays off the bases; and
•             5.         Score more runs than the Rays.    

The Dodgers were successful in all five.   Buehler flat out dominated, the Dodgers scored early, and often and the Rays hitters were effectively neutralized.   One of the better Dodger wins, as they prevailed 6-2 and took a 2-1 lead in the series. 

1^st inning

Joe Buck let us know how great Charlie Morton is.   While he is good and has had a nice post season, Justin Turner wasn’t all that impressed, as with 2 outs, he took Morton deep, giving the Dodgers the early lead.   Muncy followed with a single, but Will Smith couldn’t figure out Morton’s frisbee curve and struck out. 

Buehler retired the Rays in order on a ground out to first and two strike outs.  He looked relaxed, in command and was throwing nice and easy. 

2^nd Inning:

Morton had a relatively easy inning, as he retired the Dodgers in order.   

Buehler followed up his masterful 1st inning, with another dominant inning, striking out Choi and Margot and inducing Wendle to fly out to left.  It was early, but he looked so good, that I found myself thinking that I may see a no-hitter tonight. 

3^rd Inning:

This was what has become a rather typical inning for the Dodgers.  Barnes struck out looking, Betts struck out swinging and Buck reminded us again how great a pitcher Charlie Morton is.  Seager then got hit by a pitch, which was followed by a double to left by JT.  Muncy followed with a single to center which scored Seager and Turner.  Will Smith ended the inning with a fly out to center field.   3-0 good guys at the end of three.   Dodgers continue their masterful hitting with two outs.  For those who think the Dodgers are not clutch, they have definitely shown themselves to be clutch in this series.  I’m not sure this was the inning, but the announcers thought it important to remind us of how Morton shut the Dodgers down in the final game of the 2017 World Series.  They even showed the Astros hoisting the WS trophy.   Perhaps they forgot about the cheating scandal.   In any event, it made me momentarily sick to my stomach.

In the bottom of the inning, Buehler allows his first base runner, with a one out walk to Kiermaier, who was then promptly erased on a double play grounder to third by Zunino.  Turner made a great pick and throw to second on the play.   Defense helps win games, and JT showed he still knows how to play a little 3^rd base when needed. 

4^th Inning:

Bellinger starts off with a single to center.  Taylor strikes out swinging, but Pederson singles down the right field line sending Bellinger to third.   Apparently Pederson may have made it to second, but fell down rounding first.  Other than what they told us, we don’t know what happened, because Fox doesn’t show us.   Barnes then lays down a perfect safety squeeze, scoring Belli, with Joc advancing to second.  Betts then singles to center, scoring Joc.   Morton ends the inning by getting Seager to ground out to third.  5-0 Dodgers.        

Buehler retire the side in order, with Meadows lining out to Bellinger, Lowe then, according to Buck, took a great swing but fouled the ball to the backstop.  Apparently he didn’t learn anything from his great swing as he struck out swinging.   Arozarena ended the inning by flying out to deep center.  Buehler still looks very much in command. 

5^th Inning:

JT started with a strikeout, but Muncy worked a walk.  That was it for Morton, as he was relieved by John Curtiss(who’s middle name happens to be Pickens).  Will Smith follows with a fly out to right, and Bellinger strikes out swinging. 

Buehler quickly disposes of Choi with a strikeout, but then Margot gets the first hit off Buehler with a double to left.  Buehler then gets Wendle to strike out swinging.  Unfortunately he hangs a slider to Adames, who also doubles to left, scoring Margot.  The Rays are on the board.  Kermaier follows with a grounder to Muncy to end the inning.   Despite the run, Buehler still looks very much in command, although his pitch count is starting to rise. 

6^th Inning:

Curtiss is still pitching for the Rays.  CT3 starts the inning by striking out.  Joc hits a pop fly to third base.  Then with two outs (naturally) Barnes gets the run back by hitting a homerun to left center.  I read that it was the furthest ball that Barnes has hit all year (425 feet).  Good for AB.  The role player came up huge when needed.  Betts singled to center, and stole second base.  Seager walked, but JT ended the inning by lining out to center field. 

Buehler allows a one out single to Meadows in the bottom of the inning, but he cooly strikes out the side, as Zunino, Lowe, and Arozarena all go down swinging.  That’s how a shut down inning should look.   Buehler’s night is finished.  His final line 6 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 10 Ks.   Just what the Doc ordered.      

7^th Inning:

Lefty Ryan Sherriff comes on to pitch for the rays.   Other than a walk to Smith, he retires the Dodgers with no damage allowed.     

Treinen is out for the 7^th inning and retires the Rays with relative ease as he strikes two.  His pitches looked as good as they have in a while.  

8^th Inning:

Ryan Thompson is on to pitch for the rays and he retires the Dodgers in order.

Graterol comes on to pitch the bottom of the 8^th and he retires the Rays in order on 8 pitches.  Nice stress free inning for the Bazooka. 

9^th Inning:

Shane McClanahan is on to pitch the 9^th for the Rays.  Seager greets him with single to left, but he is stranded as the next 3 Dodgers fly out.  McClanahan is a young lefty that can throw 100 mph.   Impressive.   

Jansen comes on to pitch the ninth.  Meadows strikes out swinging and Lowe is retired on a lazy fly out to Betts.   Arozarena hits a 3-2 pitch left out over the plate a long ways for a home run, but Choi ends the game with a fly to left.   Despite the homerun, Jansen looked very good.  His velocity was up as high as it has been all year, his cutter cut, and he looked relaxed.  Whatever Charlie Hough and Rick Honeycutt told him must have resonated as he looks a lot stronger.   If only they would give a call to Joe Kelly.   in the ninth for the save.   There are nervous fans throughout the Dodgers community. 

Two wins to go, and 1988 will be a distant memory!!  

Some Random Playoff Thoughts: 

●          Listening to Joe Buck is insufferable.         

●          It’s my opinion that one day, JT will be a manager, and a good one at that.  He’s a great communicator and has tremendous baseball knowledge.  In addition, the players appear to respect his leadership qualities.   Perhaps the Dodgers could bring him back as a player/coach.      

●          This is the year for George Lombard to get interviewed for vacant manager positions.  While I would hate to see him go, I do hope that he gets th opportunity to manage and that he is a successful manager for many years to come.     

●          Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin appear to be suffering from nerves.  Being on the big stage in the World Series will sometimes do that to you.  Despite their minor struggles, I am not ready to give up on them.  They both have a chance to be really, really good.

●          I know that hitting a baseball is a very hard thing to do, but it frustrates me to no end to watch a hitter strike out looking in the 8^th or 9^th inning.   Game two had me very frustrated as the Dodgers struck out looking several times in those innings.   You can’t hit what you don’t swing at.      

●          The game two home plate umpire needs to go on a n exercise program to increase his flexibility.  It did not appear that he could bend over enough to see the low strike.  He missed quite a few in the strike zone. 

My take on “Me and Julio” with apologies to Paul Simon.   It was very quickly written, so not my best effort.   Hopefully, it doesn’t jinx Julio for tonight’s game:

Doc named him to start game four

fully rested and part of the rotation

When the fans found out they began to shout

hoping to begin a celebration

would he beat the odds

would he beat the odds

What the hitters saw

It was against the law

Young Julio looked down and he spit on the ground

when he hit his spot and shut them down 

Doc said “oh they’ll never get to that boy

he’s got too much spin and determination”

Well he’s on his way

The Rays don’t know what he’s throwing

He owns the Rays

it’s just a matter of time

as he strikes out nine

Goodbye Arozarena, as he goes down swinging

That’s our young Julio

Three down and keeping them from going deep

That’s our young Julio

he’s in command      

Whoa, in a couple days Dodgers will hoist the trophy 

and the fans will sing with joy 

And when the last out was made

Julio will be praised 

Julio was all on the cover of Baseball America  

And he’s on his way

The Rays don’t where he’s throwing

He’s just a strike away

so he’s taking his time

as he strikes out nine

Goodbye Arozarena, as he goes down swinging

Seein’ my boy Julio

Jump into Will Smith’s arms

Seein’ my boy Julio

Jump into Smith’s arms

Jump into Will Smith’s arms

Jump into Smith’s arms