THE WORLD SERIES
The Dodgers triumphed over the Rays in the 2020 World Series
THIS STORY BEGAN BEFORE THE WORLD SERIES OCCURRED AND CONTINUED AS THE GAMES WERE PLAYED. FOR THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION AND FINAL THOUGHTS, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM.
The world series starts up tomorrow with the top teams of the national and American league, the Tampa Bay Rays and the LA Dodgers. Before we go into the world series, let's see how both of these teams got to the place they are now.
The League Championship started off with the Tampa Bay Rays taking a slow and steady game with the Houston Astros. Winning after Mike Zunino hit a nice single into left field, giving Willy Adames a chance to score, placing the Rays on top winning the game. On their next game the Rays started off with a deep home run scoring a total of three points right off the bat. While Zunino hit a homer to center field flying out to about 454 feet.
By the end of the game the Rays held off the Astros, winning 2-4. On game three of the series, the Astros started off right with Jose Altuve hitting a home run to left field. In the sixth inning, the Rays made a comeback with Joseph Wendle hitting a single to left field scoring two RBI. Yandy Díaz scored after Adames was hit by a pitch; and before the inning was over Hunter Renfroe hit a double to right field, letting Wendle and Kiermaier score. By the bottom of the sixth Michael Brantley hit a homer straight to left field, ultimately giving the Rays a strong hold over the Astros 5-2. For the fourth game of the Rays vs Astros series, Altuve hit a deep home run into left field giving the Astros the first point of the game. Altuve then doubled to deep right field, letting Martin Maldonado score. At the top of the fourth Randy Arozarena hit a home run to left field also scoring in Austin Meadows, tying the game. After George Springer hit a home run into left field, also scoring in Maldonado.
The Astros eventually won the game after holding the Rays 3-4. For the fifth game of the series, Springer hit a home run at the top of the first. Brandon Lowe returned the favor by hitting a home run in the third inning. On the bottom end of the inning, Michael Brantley singled to right field running in josh Reddick and Maldonado. A fierce comeback insued as the rays spent the next five innings scoring two runs. Eventually taking the L and giving the Astros another win when Carlos Correa hit a deep home run right up the middle. The sixth game of series started off slow with Adames hitting a double toward center field and scoring in Lowe. Midway through the game, the Astros made a rapid comeback as Springer singled to center field with two RBI. Altuve smashed a double to deep left letting springer run in; which lead Correa to hitting a single to left field scoring in Altuve. Three points ahead, the Astros continued their assault with three more runs within the following innings. They only let up at the end, giving the Rays three more runs. But this was to no avail, as the Astros won 7-4. The seventh and final game between the Rays and the Astros could be described as a rush to victory. With the Rays hitting two home runs within the first two innings placing them ahead with three points. Zunino hit sacrifice fly out to center field running in Choi, giving the Rays a total of four points. By the end of the game the Astros could only amass two points by the end of the eighth inning. With Correa hitted a single to right field, Altuve and Díaz scoring.
On the other side of the bracket there was the LA Dodgers going against the Atlanta Braves. For the first game in the series, freddie Freeman on the braves hit a deep right field home run at the top of the first inning. Not until the fifth inning, Enrique Hernandez hit a home run toward left field tying to two teams. It wasn’t until as late as the top of the ninth, that the braves turned up the heat by scoring four more runs on the Dodgers. With lots of help coming from Ozzie Albies’ home run running in two people; that lead to the Braves winning the first game. Toward the second game the Braves got to the fourth inning before Freeman homered to right field flying to 408 feet and scoring Ronald Acuña Jr. The fifth inning was a hot one for the Braves as they gained 4 runs from the team’s powerful players.
Coming to a halt when Cory Seager hit a home run straight to left field, bringing in Joc Pederson Chirs Taylor. Albies tried to start up the team’s momentum again be hitting another home run to center field. The Dodgers responded by scoring four runs, but losing 8-7. The next game between these two giants could only be described as teleivised murder. In the first inning alone the Dodgers scored 11 runs; then in second and third innings the dodgers scored another four runs. All the Braves could do was score up a measly three runs at after most of the damage had been done. After the Braves’ crushing defeat, they got revenge on the Dodgers by scoring seven runs in the sixth inning. In the last two innings the Braves scored another three runs, only letting the Dodgers get two runs. Winning 10-2. With both teams now having a massive defeat, the fifth game started with the Braves scoring two points. Midgame the Dodgers rapidly scored against the Braves with a staggering seven runs, gaining a quick comeback victory against the Braves 7-3. The sixth game of the series was a quick and easy game for the dodgers. In the first inning, the Dodgers ran up three people and held onto the lead for the rest of the game, inning 1-3 and putting them into a tie against the Braves. A battle of the gods would be a fair description of the last game. By the third inning the teams were tied 2-2 and the silence was broken by Austin Riley with a single to center and a RBI placing the Braves in the lead. The sixth and seventh inning was a godsend for the Dodgers, quickly gaining the two points needed the win the game and move onto the world series. The main players in the Dodgers’ comeback were Enrique Hernández and Cody Bellinger.
With our introductions out of the way, it's now time for these two titans to fight it out on the field.
GAME ONE: The first game of the World Series was a decent first fight between the two teams. Cody Bellinger helped put the Dodgers into the lead with his fourth inning home run to right field. Scoring two runs, the Dodgers now have a firm lead on the Rays. Next inning, Kevin Kiermaier hits a home run straight to right field, flying out 382 feet. When the Dodgers got up to bat, they quickly racked up four points placing them in a 1-6 lead. In the sixth inning the Dodgers rampaged against the Rays, scoring two points with Betts’ homer to right field and Muncy’s double to deep right center, giving Turner a chance to score. One notable event was in the seventh inning, when Victor Gonzalez quickly caught a line drive, catching Brosseau off guard and getting the double play. The Dodgers ended up winning the first game of the World Series, showing off their eagerness to win.
GAME TWO: The second game of the World Series started off with Lowe giving the Rays a nice home run to left field. Joey Wendle gave the Rays a huge helping hand in the fourth inning by hitting a double deep into right field, scoring Margot and Choi. Next inning, Lowe got his second home run of the game, thus pushing the Rays into a 5-0 lead. When the Dodgers came up to the plate, Chris Taylor smashed a home run to right field with 2 RBI, putting the Dodgers 5-2. Wendle in sixth inning hit a sac fly to left field, giving Choi a chance to score, placing them 6-2. For the last innings of the game, Smith and Seager homered, ending the game with a score of 6-4.
GAME THREE: The third game of the Rays vs Dodgers series was hasty win for the Dodgers, who scored a home run in the first inning coming from Turner. At the top of the third, Muncy’s single to deep center scored two RBI puting the Dodgers further ahead 3-0. In the fourth inning the Dodgers took a great leap from the Rays by scoring two runs. At 5-0 Adames's double gave Margot a chance to score, which pushed the Rays 5-1. In the sixth inning, Barnes homered to center field, flying out to about 425 feet. After Arozarena homered to left field, the game ended 6-2.
GAME FOUR: The fourth game of the Rays vs Dodgers series was a slugfest between the two teams fighting the for title of winner of the World Series. The Dodgers started off the same way they always do, with Turner smacking a home run to center field. In the third inning, Seager homered to right field giving the Dodgers a two run lead. But Arozarena helped keep it close by homering to right field at the bottom of the fourth. Fifth inning Muncy singled to deep right field, scoring Seager in an attempt to hold onto their lead. At the bottom of the inning, Hunter Renfroe homered to left field keeping the gap close between the two teams. In the sixth inning Hernández got a RBI again pushing the Dodgers away from the Rays, but when Lowe got to plate he homered to left field scoring three runs for the Rays and putting them ahead of the Dodgers. By the seventh inning both teams were tied and when Taylor scored next inning the Dodgers went back into the lead. When the ninth inning came in, it all came crashing down for the Dodgers. First Phillips singled out to right field, which lead to Kiermaier scoring on an error by center fielder Taylor. Then at a surprising turn of events Arozarena scored on error by catcher Smith giving the Rays a last minute win 7-8.
GAME FIVE: After the Dodgers' mocking defeat, they ran up two runs in the first inning. In the second inning, Pederson homered to center field, putting the Dodgers 3-0. At the bottom of the third, the Rays scooped up two runs, putting them at 3-2. At the top of the fifth, Muncy hit one last home run to right field. At 4-2 the Dodgers won- but at what cost?
GAME SIX: The final game of the World Series was a shocking win for the Dodgers. Arozarena started off the first inning with a home run to right field, putting the Rays in the lead -10. For most of the game the score didn’t change with a phenomenal pitching job by Blake Snell. After the sixth inning the Rays made the controversial decision to pull Snell out and place Nick Anderson in. Only dreamers now could imagine what could have happened if they left Snell in. When Anderson went onto the mound, Betts hits a triple scoring in a run. Then Seager stepped up and ran into Betts, instantly putting the Dodgers ahead 1-2. In the eighth inning, the Dodgers scored their last run, with Betts smacking a home run 434 feet into the stadium.
After the final pitch was thrown, the Dodgers ran onto the pitch, screaming in excitement about how they’ve won. Many were just happy to see them win, since the Dodgers haven’t won a World Series since 1988. When presented with their trophy, teammate Justin Turner came onto the field to celebrate with his team on winning the World Series. Even if the Rays lost, their effort shouldn’t be ignored. Throughout the whole series they played hard and never gave up, and in the fourth game they even showed that they shouldn’t be underestimated. Overall, both teams should feel proud about making it to the World Series and having a chance to show themselves to the World.
This is Spartacus’ first year on The Edge staff. He spends most of his time playing baseball in Palm Bay and listening to music. This year in journalism, he hopes to have fun while writing stories in class.