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Dodgers Grab Early Lead To Take World Series Game 5
Starter Clayton Kershaw gave up only two runs in the Dodgers Game 5 win. (Image courtesy of Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers Grab Early Lead To Take World Series Game 5

The Los Angeles Dodgers are now one win away from their first World Series crown since 1988 with their 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5.

Clayton Kershaw started on the mound for the Dodgers and quitted the narrative around his lack of postseason success with an effective outing over 5 2/3 innings pitched with only 2 runs given up.

Opposite of Kershaw was Santa Clarita native and Hart High School graduate Tyler Glasnow, who struggled in his second starting appearance for the Rays in the World Series.

Mookie Betts opened the game with a leadoff double off of Glasnow and Corey Seager followed it up with an RBI single on a line drive into shallow right field just out of reach of Hunter Renfroe’s outstretched glove for an early 1-0 Dodger lead.

While Glasnow managed to put together two strikeouts, a pair of wild pitches allowed Seager to steal his way to third and Cody Bellinger drove him in with an RBI single to make it 2-0 Dodgers.

The Dodgers momentum carried into the second with a Joc Pederson solo home run to leadoff the inning to extend the lead to 3-0.

After he kept the Rays scoreless through the first two innings, Tampa Bay started to put together some offense against Kershaw in the third.

Kevin Kiermaier hit a leadoff single and Yandy Diaz hit a triple deep into right field to bring in Kiermaier for the Rays first score of the night, 3-1.

The Rays followed that right up with a Randy Arozarena RBI-single to close the Dodger lead to one run, 3-2.

Tensions heightened when Kershaw returned in the fourth and opened the inning with a walk to Manuel Margot, who then managed to steal second and advanced to third on a missed catch by Chris Taylor, followed by another walk to Renfroe.

Kershaw met with his teammates at the mound to discuss the situation and Kershaw went on to string together a pair of outs to bring Kiermaier back to the plate. 

On the second pitch of Kiermaier’s at-bat, Margot attempted to steal home but Kershaw’s throw to catcher Austin Barnes beat him there for the tag out to end the inning.

After a quiet third and fourth inning from the Dodgers bats, Max Muncy padded the Dodger lead with a solo home run in the fifth off of Glasnow to make it 4-2.

The Rays offense failed to put together any scores the rest of the way as the Dodgers turned to a combination of Dustin May, Victor Gonzalez and Blake Treinen to close out the game after Kershaw left with one out in the sixth.

History was made by both teams but for different reasons, with his appearance, Kershaw became the all-time leader in postseason strikeouts with 207, while Glasnow set the record for most home runs given up in a single postseason with nine.

The Dodgers now have one day off before they return to play in Game 6 with an opportunity to close out the series on Tuesday night at 5:08 p.m.

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Dodgers Grab Early Lead To Take World Series Game 5

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About Wyatt Smith

Wyatt was born and raised in Santa Clarita. After graduating from Hart High School in 2012, he continued his studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a degree in applied statistics. After a year and a half working in the digital advertising industry, Wyatt left his previous field of work to pursue his interest in writing.