L.A. TREKS 7TH HEAVEN
The goal isn’t to get to the World Series — it’s to win the World Series Dodgers eye world title
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have yet another shot at Major League Baseball’s (MLB) biggest prize as they ride a wave of momentum into their 2020 World Series clash with the Tampa
Bay Rays starting Tuesday.
A Dodgers team that came up short in baseball’s championship showcase in 2017 and 2018 looked as if they wouldn’t even make it to the World Series they fell, 1-3, the Atlanta in the National Championship (NLCS).
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But Los Angeles roared back, capping a three-game winning streak with a 4-3 Game 7 triumph on Sunday aided by home runs from Enrique Hernandez and Cody Bellinger.
“Obviously, the comeback we were able to do, we do feel good about our momentum and our ability to win games at any point,” Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who will start Game 1 on Tuesday against opposite number Tyler Glasnow, said. The Dodgers endured heartbreak in recent years as they seek the club’s seventh World Series title, but first since 1988. They lost a decisive seventh game to the Houston Astros in 2017 — the Astros triumph later tainted by revelations of electronically aided sign-stealing that season.
In 2018, it was the Boston Red Sox who denied the Dodgers.
This time the Dodgers, one of the richest teams in Major League Baseball, will be up against a low-budget but highly-talented Rays team that built the best record in the American League in the coronavirus pandemic shortened season.
The Rays had the third-lowest opening day payroll in the major leagues according to Spotrac at $28.2 million. In the playoffs they knocked off the Toronto Blue Jays ($54.4 million), New York Yankees ($109.4 million) and Houston Astros ($82.5 million). In the Dodgers, they will face the team with the second-highest payroll at $107.9 million. Tampa Bay’s victory over the Astros in the American League Championship Series was a gut-wrenching affair.
The Rays took a series lead before the Astros won three straight to force Game 7, the Rays finally coming out on top to reach the World Series for the second time in their 22-year history. They fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. Rookie
Randy Arozarena epitomizes the young talent that has buoyed the Rays. After hitting seven home runs in 23 regular-season contests, he has hit seven in 14 post-season games.
Pitcher Charlie Morton adds a dash of veteran experience. He pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings in the Rays’ series clinching victory over the Astros.
“We’re lucky to have Charlie Morton,” manager Kevin Cash said.
“For a group that doesn’t have a wealth of experience in these roles, Charlie does. He’s been there, done that and lined up really well for us.”
The Dodgers’ wealth of experienced big-game contenders includes Kershaw, a generational pitching talent who is still seeking to cement his legacy with a World Series title.
The Dodgers have carried a heavy weight of expectation since finishing the regular season with baseball’s best record of 43-17.
The Dodgers endured heartbreak in recent years as they seek the club’s seventh World Series title, but first since 1988.
Hernandez said their comeback from 3-1 down in the NLCS has tempered the team.
“Everybody was expecting us to get to the World Series,” Hernandez said.
“We were expecting us to get to the World Series, to the point that when we were down, 3-1, we hadn’t gone through any adversity throughout the season.”
“It was time to get it done. By then, we had nothing to lose — they have something to lose, they shouldn’t lose this series. We took it one inning at a time and were able to pull it off.”
“But the job’s not done. The goal isn’t to get to the World Series — it’s to win the World Series.”