Rays 2, Dodgers 6: Two Out Runs Are Annoying

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The Rays are dominated by Walker Buehler and fall into a 2-1 hole.

Coming off an emotional win in Game 2 that knotted the series, the Rays could not keep the good vibes going, dropping Game 3 by a score of 6-2.

Wearing their home whites, the Rays ran out the same lineup for the second game in a row, this time backing Charlie Morton.

Austin Barnes got the call behind the plate for the Dodgers, catching Captain Tightpants, Walker Buehler.

in the top of the first, Morton sat down the first two quickly and quietly, in part thanks to Ji-Man Choi.

But as they have all postseason, the Dodgers continued to excel at getting two out runs. This time, with a 1-2 count to Turner, Charlie gave up a drive out to left. 1-0 Dodgers.

In the third, the Dodgers worked their two out magic again. Morton hit Seagar on the foot, then gave up a double to left to Turner. Morton then worked a full count to Muncy before surrendering a two run single. 3-0 Dodgers.

With one out in the bottom of the third, the Rays got their first base runner against Buehler when KK drew a walk. But Mike Zunino followed by pulling a grounder right to Turner, for a 5-4-3 double play.

In the top of the fourth, Bellinger and Pederson singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Austin Barnes then put down a safety squeeze, scoring Bellinger and making it a 4-0 game. Betts followed by singling to center, scoring Pederson. 5-0.

After a walk to Muncy in the fifth, Morton was done. 4.1, 7 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Margot recorded the first Rays hit when he doubled up the third base line. Then, after a Wendle strikeout, Willy Adames doubled into the left field corner, scoring Margot. 5-1 Dodgers.

After Curtiss came on to close out the fifth, he went back out for the sixth. He retired the first two, but — stop if you’ve heard this before —he hung an 0-2 slider and gave up a dinger to left by Barnes. 6-1 Dodgers.

Buehler was done after six: 6.0, 0 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts.

The bullpens duked it out the rest of the way. The Rays got scoreless frames from Sherriff, Thompson, and McClanahan. The Dodgers got scoreless innings from Treinen and Graterol. Jansen worked the ninth, and was on his way to a clean frame. That is, until he met Randy Arozorena, who homered to left for the final 6-2 margin.

His eighth homer of the postseason ties a record, and his 23 hits passed Derek Jeter for the rookie record.

The Rays will try to draw even again tomorrow at 8:08 PM. The Dodgers will send Julio Urías against Tampa Bay ace TBD.