The Los Angeles Dodgers are the World Series Champions again since 1988

Last week in Arlington, Texas over 1400 miles away from their home stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers reclaimed their World Series Campion title after 32 years. Their 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series has given the core of the team rings after so many hard-worked years. 

This is a well-deserved win for the Dodger since they are eight-consecutive year NCLS champions and came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Atlanta Braves in the NCLS series. 

The Rays started off hot win a home run in the first inning, but that would be the end of the runs they would score.

The Dodgers were shut out for five consecutive innings by starting pitcher Blake Snell. 

It was during the sixth inning where Ray’s manager Kevin Cash made the questionable call to pull Snell which would lead the Dodger to score their first two runs in the game. Snell has struck out nine Dodger batters and was ready to pitch the rest of the game. 

“I regret the decision because it didn’t work out,” Cash said afterward. “If we had to do it over again, I would have the utmost conscience in Nick Anderson to get through that inning.” 

In the big sixth for the Dodgers, Snell was forced to watch his hard work slip from the Rays’ fingers. He watched as reliever Nick Anderson allowed Dodgers’ right fielder Mookie Betts to double. Also after a wild-pitch, catcher Austin Barnes would cross home plate to be the first run for the team. The Dodgers then went to take the lead in this inning when Betts scored on shortstop Corey Seager’s fielder’s choice hit to the right side of the field. 

The eighth inning secured their title this year. Pitcher Julio Urias dominated the Rays in a 1-2-3 inning. After that successful top, the Dodgers would score again in the bottom after a home run was hit by Betts off of Rays’ reliever Pete Fairbanks giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

Urias continued to dominate the lineup when he had another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth to finish the game.

Many players have been waiting for this title for years, including Cy Young Awarded pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was exceptionally happy for Kershaw.

“For guys like Clayton, I couldn’t be happier for you, Kersh,” Roberts said. “You want to talk about a narrative? How about being a champion? He’s a champion forever.” 

Another player who was waiting to get a national title was third baseman Justin Turner. Sadly, Turner had to be removed from the game in the seventh inning because his positive Coronavirus test came back during the game.

After the victory, Seager was rewarded World Series MVP.  Seager also was awarded the NCLS MVP this year.

The question to come out of this is if there would be game seven afterward if manager Cash would have left Snell to continue to plow through the Dodgers’ lineup. 

This MLB season has been an interesting season due to its being played in the middle of a pandemic, but this year, with the Dodgers and the Lakers,  Los Angeles is truly the city of champions.