The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dodgers rookie toface inspiredRays
ARLINGTON, TEXAS— Spending a low- key Monday off day at their bubble hotel, the Tampa Bay Rays seem quietly confident of their ability to beat the Dodgers in today’s Game 6 to keep the World Series going, and then to win it on Wednesday.
Rookie reliever Ryan Thompson said there is — and has been — no question about it.
“The culture that this team brings, all the way back from spring training, just being a part ofmy first big- league spring training, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Thompson said. “When I got there, we expected this. If we didn’t get here, itwould have been a failure, itwould have been a disappointment.
“And to even go further, we expect to win this thing. We believe we can win these next two games. And we will.”
The Dodgers will have rookie TonyGonsolin startGame6, manager Dave Roberts announced late Sunday after the club’s Game 5 victory.
The rookie will take themound with a chance to win L. A.’ s first championship in 32 years.
The Dodgers could’ve opted to have aceWalker Buehler start on three days’ rest, but Roberts said thatwasn’t considered. Buehler would start in a Game 7, if necessary.
Today’s start will mark the end to a roller coaster season forGonsolin, 26, who reported to summer camp late after testing positive for the coronavirus and didn’t make the opening day roster. He was called up to make a spot start eight days into the season but returned to the Dodgers’ alternate site for two weeks before hewas recalled again. He ended up sticking.
Gonsolin pitchedwell enough for the Dodgers to become part of the team’s postseason plans and feel comfortable tradingRoss Stripling, an established veteran, at the trade deadline for prospects. Gonsolin finished the season with 2.31 ERA and 46 strikeouts tosevenwalks in46⅔ innings across nine games.
But Gonsolin has struggled in the postseason. He has allowed eight runs and six hits in 7⅔ innings over three games — one as a conventional starter, one as an opener and one as a reliever. He’s given up three home runs after giving up two in the regular season.
“I want the ball, want to give
our teama chance to win every time I go out to pitch,” Gonsolin said after opening Game 2 of the World Series. “It’s been a lot of fun, been a learning experience for me to do different things, starting, then throwing in three days. I’m trying to take it as a learning experience and go from there.”
Gonsolin gave up five runs and three hits with seven strikeouts and threewalks across4⅓ innings in his first playoff outing — a start in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves after not pitching the previous two weeks.
He then pitched out of the bullpen
inGame7 of theNLCS, allowing two runs in two innings. He was chosen to open Game 2 of the World Series — a Dodgers loss — on two days’ rest and surrendered a run on a home run by Brandon Lowe in 1⅓ innings.
“I think I can definitely take trying to maintainmy sharpness in between outings,” Gonsolin said. “Not trying to have all ofmy stuff showup on day five orwhatever my start day is, being able to day to daywork on that and hone the execution so it can be available when I need it.”
The Rays faced elimination twice previously in this postseason, beating the Yankees in a fifth
and final game of the AL Division Series, and then rallying after losing three in a row to beat the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS.
Manager Kevin Cash said he expects the Rays to have a similar and consistent approach today.
The Rays might make changes to the lineup in an attempt to spark more offense, Cash said, adding that right- handed hitter Yandy Diaz is swinging the bat better.
Starter Blake Snell needs to be aggressive and in attack mode with his pitches early, Cash said. If the Rays get the lead, theywill be aggressive with their bullpen, he said.