Joc Pederson is the guy the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t need or want — until October. After nearly being traded in February and hitting .190 during the regular season, Pederson is coming up big in the postseason. Pederson crushed a fastball from Rays starter Tyler Glasnow over the left-center field wall leading off the second inning Sunday night, extending LA's lead to 3-0. After enduring a stunning 8-7 loss in Game 4, the Dodgers rebounded early and went on to a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay. Los Angeles is one win from its first World Series championship since 1988. “They don't call it Joctober for no reason,” said teammate Max Muncy, who added a solo shot in the fifth. “The guy performs on the huge stage, that's just what he does.” Pederson could tell his 428-foot drive immediately was gone. “They don’t want that smoke,” he bellowed upon returning to the dugout. “Come on, let’s go!” It was the Dodgers’ 28th home run of the postseason after leading the majors with 118 during the regular season.... [More]

Joc Pederson is the guy the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t need or want — until October. After nearly being traded in February and hitting .190 in the regular season, Pederson is coming up big in the postseason. Pederson crushed a fastball from Rays starter Tyler Glasnow over the left-center field wall leading off the second Sunday night, extending LA's lead to 3-0. After enduring a stunning 8-7 loss in Game 4, the Dodgers rebounded early and went on to a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay. Los Angeles is one win away from its first World Series championship since 1988. “They don't call it Joctober for no reason,” said Max Muncy, who added a solo shot in the fifth. “The guy performs on the huge stage, that's just what he does.” Pederson could tell his 428-foot blast immediately was gone. “They don’t want that smoke,” Pederson bellowed upon returning to the dugout. “Come on, let’s go!” It was the Dodgers’ 28th home run of the postseason after leading the majors with 118 during the regular season. Pederson... [More]

The big man in Tampa Bay's rotation has struggled with the little things, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have pounced on seemingly every mistake Tyler Glasnow has made. Glasnow allowed four runs in five innings as the Rays fell 4-2 in Game 5 Sunday night, taking his second loss in this World Series. He threw a Series record three wild pitches, allowed his record ninth homer of the postseason, and despite overpowering stuff, never took control against a Dodger team that has exposed his few flaws while moving within one win of the title. Lanky and strong at 6-foot-8, Glasnow runs his fastball over 100 mph with electric rise and snaps his curveball violently toward the earth — a devastating 1-2 punch that rivals any in the game. Since being swindled away from the Pirates in a 2018 trade, the 27-year-old has looked the part of a knockout ace. And yet, his ERA through six postseason starts is a staggering 6.28. “I think it’s definitely not my greatest month of baseball, that’s for sure,” he said.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 5 of the World Series (all times local): 10:40 p.m. Clayton Kershaw beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second time in six days, escaping a fourth-inning jam with a quick reaction throw to cut down a runner trying for a rare steal of home plate, and the Los Angeles Dodgers held on for a 4-2 win Sunday night and a 3-2 World Series lead. With one more victory, the Dodgers would claim their first title since 1988. Mookie Betts and Corey Seager sparked a two-run first inning, and Joc Pederson and Max Muncy homered off long-ball prone Tyler Glasnow, whose 100 mph heat was no match. Kershaw was cruising when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removed the 32-year-old left-hander in favor of Dustin May with two outs in the sixth inning. The mostly pro-Dodgers fans in the pandemic-reduced crowd of 11,437 booed when Roberts walked to the mound, well aware that closer Kenley Jansen wasted a ninth-inning lead in Saturday’s stunning 8-7 loss. May got five outs and Victor... [More]

Joc Pederson is the guy the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t need or want — until October. After nearly being traded in February and hitting .190 in the regular season, Pederson is coming up big in the postseason. Pederson crushed a fastball from Rays starter Tyler Glasnow over the left-center field wall leading off the second Sunday night, extending LA's lead to 3-0. After enduring a stunning 8-7 loss in Game 4, the Dodgers rebounded early and went on to a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay. Los Angeles leads 3-2 in the best-of-seven Series. The left-handed slugger could tell immediately it was gone. “They don’t want that smoke,” Pederson bellowed upon returning to the dugout. “Come on, let’s go!” It was the Dodgers’ 28th home run of the postseason after leading the majors with 118 during the regular season. Pederson homered in the Dodgers' losing efforts in the 2017 and 2018 World Series, too. He doesn't have a set spot in the Dodgers' loaded lineup. But Pederson fits in just about everywhere. He started... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 5 of the World Series (all times local): 10:40 p.m. Clayton Kershaw beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second time in six days, escaping a fourth-inning jam with a quick reaction throw to cut down a runner trying for a rare steal of home plate, and the Los Angeles Dodgers held on for a 4-2 win Sunday night and a 3-2 World Series lead. With one more victory, the Dodgers would claim their first title since 1988. Mookie Betts and Corey Seager sparked a two-run first inning, and Joc Pederson and Max Muncy homered off long-ball prone Tyler Glasnow, whose 100 mph heat was no match. Kershaw was cruising when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removed the 32-year-old left-hander in favor of Dustin May with two outs in the sixth inning. The mostly pro-Dodgers fans in the pandemic-reduced crowd of 11,437 booed when Roberts walked to the mound, well aware that closer Kenley Jansen wasted a ninth-inning lead in Saturday’s stunning 8-7 loss. May got five outs and Victor... [More]

The big man in Tampa Bay's rotation has struggled with the little things, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have pounced on seemingly every mistake Tyler Glasnow has made. Glasnow allowed four runs in five innings as the Rays fell 4-2 in Game 5 Sunday night, taking his second loss in this World Series. He threw a Series record three wild pitches, allowed a record-setting homer, and despite overpowering stuff, never took control against a Dodger team that has exposed his few flaws while moving within one win of the title. Lanky and strong at 6-foot-8, Glasnow runs his fastball over 100 mph with electric rise and snaps his curveball violently toward the earth — a devastating 1-2 punch that rivals any in the game. The right-hander with strikeout stuff has missed plenty of bats, striking out 15 over his two Fall Classic starts. But he has been hurt by shaky command, a weakness against the running game and perhaps because he lacks a reliable third pitch. “What hurt him is the talent of the Dodgers... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 5 of the World Series (all times local): 9:50 p.m. Dustin May is keeping the Rays’ bats quiet with an impressive relief outing -- and making Dodgers manager Dave Roberts look smart for summoning him to replace an effective Clayton Kershaw. The rookie right-hander with the wild shock of bright red hair has retired all four batters he’s faced (two on strikeouts) to protect a 4-2 lead for Los Angeles through seven innings. May, who had been struggling in the postseason, is consistently throwing 99-101 mph with major movement. A fired-up May struck out pinch-hitter Austin Meadows to begin a 1-2-3 seventh that was aided by Joc Pederson’s nice running catch in deep left-center field. May entered with a 5.00 ERA in six previous appearances covering nine innings this postseason. He had allowed nine hits and walked six. Tampa Bay reliever Diego Castillo made quick work of the first three hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup in the top of the seventh. The best-of-seven... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 5 of the World Series (all times local): 9:31 p.m. Two pitches, two outs for Clayton Kershaw in the sixth. And then, just like that, he got pulled by manager Dave Roberts. Perhaps that was the plan Sunday night, maybe that’s what the book said, yank him after 21 batters, no matter what. But the Dodgers lefty was done after 85 pitches. Not that the LA fans at Globe Life Field liked the decision -- a few thousand of them booed, before cheering for Kershaw as he walked off. Struggling reliever Dustin May entered and struck out Manuel Margot with a 101 mph fastball to end the inning with the Dodgers ahead 4-2. Rays manager Kevin Cash went to his bullpen to begin the sixth, taking out starter Tyler Glasnow. Relievers Aaron Loup and Diego Castillo combined for a hitless inning. ___ 9:15 p.m. Max Muncy launched a no-doubt homer into the right-field seats, and the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 through five innings. Muncy turned on a 99... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 5 of the World Series (all times local): 9:15 p.m. Max Muncy launched a no-doubt homer into the right-field seats, and the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 through five innings. Muncy turned on a 99 mph fastball from Tyler Glasnow and whipped his bat to the ground as he admired it from the plate. It was the first homer of the World Series for Muncy and lifted his batting average to .412. The 30-year-old also walked earlier in the game and has 20 free passes this postseason, tied for second most ever behind Barry Bonds’ 27 in 2002. Glasnow has allowed a record nine homers this postseason, including eight on his fastball. The 6-foot-8 right-hander seemed to have settled after a rocky start, setting down eight straight before Muncy’s shot. After escaping a thorny fourth inning by thwarting Manual Margot’s attempted steal of home, Clayton Kershaw cruised through the fifth, retiring the side in order, including two strikeouts. ___ 8:50... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 8:25 p.m. Yandy Díaz hit an RBI triple off Clayton Kershaw and scored on Randy Arozarena’s record-breaking single to cut Tampa Bay’s deficit to 3-2 after three innings. A scuffling Tyler Glasnow remains on the mound for the Rays, trying to find his rhythm. The 6-foot-8 right-hander worked around a leadoff single and another wild pitch in the top of the third, striking out Will Smith and Cody Bellinger before Chris Taylor grounded out to end the inning. Kevin Kiermaier beat out an infield single to begin the bottom half on a ball charged and fielded by Kershaw. Díaz then sliced a line-drive triple into the right-field corner that skipped past Mookie Betts, allowing Kiermaier to score. It was Díaz’s first RBI since Aug. 29. Arozarena singled through the left side on a hanging breaking ball to make it 3-2. A frustrated Kershaw yelled and pounded his glove, and Arozarena signaled for the souvenir ball to be... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 8 p.m. Joc Pederson kept up the Dodgers’ attack against Tyler Glasnow, hitting a leadoff home run in the second inning that made it 3-0. Pederson stood at the plate for a moment to admire the shot into Tampa Bay’s bullpen in left-center field while Glasnow covered his head with both hands. Pederson became the eighth different Dodgers player to homer in this Series, tying the Bash Brothers of the ’89 A’s for the most ever. This is not what the Rays hoped for or needed from Glasnow. The 6-foot-8 ace has walked three so far, the outs against him are loud and he’s already thrown 51 pitches. He got a break, too, when Austin Barnes was caught stealing as he came off second base after beating the throw. For Glasnow, this comes after he walked six and threw a whopping 112 pitches in just 4 1/3 innings of Game 1. Clayton Kershaw also got some help in the bottom half. After Manuel Margot led off the inning with a... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 7:40 p.m. Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger singled in runs off an overthrowing Tyler Glasnow in the first inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays with the World Series tied at two games apiece. Seager advanced on a pair of wild pitches in the first by Glasnow, who was throwing at up to 100.6 mph. Mookie Betts doubled on a 99 mph fastball, driving the ball into left field, and scored two pitches later when Seager pulled a curveball into right field for a single and his 19th postseason RBI. Justin Turner took a called third strike, and Seager advanced on a wild pitch, a safe call by Laz Diaz that was upheld in a video review. Max Muncy drew his 20th walk of the postseason, Will Smith struck out and, after another wild pitch, Cody Bellinger hit a grounder that was stopped by second baseman Brandon Lowe on the right field grass with no play. Seager scored on the infield single,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brett Phillips was acquired by Tampa Bay in a trade with Kansas City in August. It seemed like a minor move right up until late Saturday night. The 26-year-old Phillips came up with the biggest swing of his career in Game 4 of the World Series, hitting a two-out single in the ninth that sent the Rays to a wild 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Phillips' first career postseason hit drove in Kevin Kiermaier, tying it at 7. Randy Arozarena then scored the winning run when catcher Will Smith was unable to catch a throw to the plate. "Man, baseball is fun,” Phillips said. It was the first plate appearance for Phillips since Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees on Oct. 7. He entered Game 4 against the Dodgers in the eighth inning as a pinch runner. “Brett Phillips ... Put him on the roster for a defensive replacement, baserunner-type of guy. He knows his role," Kiermaier said. “Comes up, biggest at-bat of his life, comes through.” Phillips,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brett Phillips was acquired by Tampa Bay in a trade with Kansas City in July. It seemed like a minor move right up until late Saturday night. The 26-year-old Phillips came up with the biggest swing of his career in Game 4 of the World Series, hitting a two-out single in the ninth that sent the Rays to a wild 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Phillips' first career postseason hit drove in Kevin Kiermaier, tying it at 7. Randy Arozarena then scored the winning run when catcher Will Smith was unable to catch a throw to the plate. "Man, baseball is fun,” Phillips said. It was the first plate appearance for Phillips since Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees on Oct. 7. He entered Game 4 against the Dodgers in the eighth inning as a pinch runner. “Brett Phillips ... Put him on the roster for a defensive replacement, baserunner-type of guy. He knows his role," Kiermaier said. “Comes up, biggest at-bat of his life, comes through.” Phillips,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 11:20 p.m. The Tampa Bay Rays pulled off a stunning rally in the bottom of the ninth inning when Brett Phillips’ two-out single and a pair of Dodgers misplays resulted in two runs that beat Los Angeles 8-7 and tied the World Series at two games each. In a game full of late drama, the final turn came out of nowhere. The Dodgers, on the verge of a 3-1 lead in a push for their first title since 1988, took a 7-6 lead into the ninth. Kevin Kiermaier blooped a single with one out off Kenley Jansen and Randy Arozarena walked with two outs. Phillips, who batted a combined .196 for Kansas City and Tampa Bay this year, hit a soft single that Chris Taylor bobbled as the tying run scored. Arozarena appeared to be a sure out when he stumbled halfway home, but catcher Will Smith lost control of the ball as he spun around for a tag, allowing the winning run to score. Three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 10:55 p.m. Corey Seager scored Chris Taylor with his fourth hit of the game, a two-out single that put Los Angeles ahead 7-6 in the eighth inning of a topsy-turvey Game 4. The Dodgers and Rays combined to score in eight consecutive half-innings -- a span including the first two lead changes of this World Series -- before LA relievers Adam Kolarek and Brusdar Graterol shut out Tampa Bay in the bottom of the eighth. The Dodgers have scored 57 of their 94 runs this postseason with two outs, including all seven Saturday. Taylor led off the eighth with a long double off shaky bullpen ace Nick Anderson. Kiké Hernández popped up a bunt attempt and Mookie Betts grounded out before Seager blooped one into shallow left-center that dropped, bringing in Taylor with the go-ahead run. Justin Turner followed Seager with his fourth hit of the night, a single that pushed Seager to third, but Max Muncy grounded out against... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 10:20 p.m. A sleepy Fall Classic that hadn’t featured a single lead change halfway through Game 4 is suddenly taking dramatic twists and turns in rapid succession. Kevin Kiermaier hit a tying homer in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Tampa Bay Rays, who were tied 6-all with the Los Angeles Dodgers heading into the eighth. Pinch-hitter Joc Pederson delivered a two-run single with two outs in the top of the seventh that put Los Angeles ahead 6-5. Pederson’s line drive deflected off the glove of a diving Brandon Lowe. The second baseman, shifted into shallow right field, appeared to slip and stumble just a bit as he prepared to make a play on the ball. Pederson became the first Dodgers player with a go-ahead pinch hit in the World Series since Kirk Gibson’s famous home run to win Game 1 against Oakland in 1988. Kiermaier connected moments later against Pedro Báez, who also gave up Lowe’s three-run homer... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 9:50 p.m. Brandon Lowe hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, giving the Tampa Bay Rays a 5-4 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series. With one out and runners on first and second, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled Blake Treinen and put in Pedro Báez. Lowe then greeted Baez with a drive to left-center for his third homer of the Series. Randy Arozarena and Hunter Renfroe also connected for Tampa Bay, which is trying to tie the Series at two games apiece. Tampa Bay pulled within one on Renfroe’s leadoff homer in the fifth, but Los Angeles answered right away. With runners on first and second in the top of the sixth, Kiké Hernández hit an RBI double off Diego Castillo. It was the Dodgers’ fourth two-out run in Game 4 and No. 54 of this postseason. ___ 9:10 p.m. The Dodgers had a potential rally in the top of the fifth cut short on an unusual play at second base, and Tampa Bay slugger... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 9:10 p.m. The Dodgers had a potential rally in the top of the fifth cut short on an unusual play at second base, and Tampa Bay slugger Hunter Renfroe hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to get the Rays within 3-2. LA’s Corey Seager hit a one-out single off reliever Pete Fairbanks and scored on Max Muncy’s two-out hit. Seager easily beat a throw home from Renfroe in right field, and Muncy took second when the ball went to the plate. Catcher Mike Zunino threw too late to nab Muncy at second, but Muncy tumbled after an aggressive pop-up slide and fell on top of shortstop Willy Adames, who was holding the baseball and tagged Muncy easily. Muncy argued unsuccessfully with second base umpire Mark Carlson that Adames pulled him off the base. Adames had his arms wrapped around Muncy as the pair hit the ground, but it was unclear if Muncy would have come off the bag anyway. The play was not reviewable. Renfroe... [More]