Charlie Morton off, bats quiet as Rays lose to Dodgers, 6-2

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) is tagged out by Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi (26), who jumped to catch an errant throw from shortstop Willy Adames, in the eighth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Charlie Morton was not postseason Charlie Morton on Friday.

And if the Rays don't start looking more like themselves soon, this World Series — and their season — could be over quickly. The Dodgers rolled to a 6-2 win and a 2-1 Series lead.

Game 4 in the best-of-seven Series is Saturday night, and Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is looming in Game 5 on Sunday.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

If not for the pandemic-forced neutral site, Friday's game would have been played at Tropicana Field, and it turned out to be quite a disappointment.

Morton, whose dazzling postseason performances thrust him into the conversation as one of the game's all-time best, was anything but in a rough outing.

For the night, Morton allowed five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Austin Barnes hits a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

By comparison, in his first three starts this postseason — including the decisive American League Championship Series Game 7 last Saturday — he allowed one earned run and 11 hits over 15 2/3 innings.

Making the night worse for the Rays, they couldn't do much of anything against Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, going into the fifth before even getting a hit. They managed only three, and one run, over six innings, while striking out 10 times.

That made Buehler the first pitcher in Series history to record double-digit strikeouts in six or fewer innings.

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi (26) makes the catch for the out on Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) during the first inning of Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

The Dodgers struck early, taking the lead when Justin Turner homered off Morton in the first inning with two outs, and on a 1-2 pitch.

They added two in the third, again with two outs. Morton hit Corey Seager with a pitch, then after being ahead 0-2, allowed an RBI double to Turner. Max Muncy singled on a full-count pitch to make it 3-0.

The Dodgers extended the lead to 5-0 in the fourth. Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson singled to put runners on the corners with one out, and Austin Barnes dropped a safety squeeze bunt, the kind the Rays used to do. A two-out, full-count single by Mookie Betts made it 5-0.

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena (56), left, and Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) watch as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes' (15) home run goes over the outfield fence during the sixth inning of Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

The Rays got their first run in the fifth, when Margot doubled with one out and Willy Adames did the same with two. The Dodgers added their sixth when Barnes homered with two outs, on an 0-2 pitch, off reliever Jon Curtiss.

Randy Arozarena hit his eighth home run of the postseason — tying a major league all-time record — with two outs in the ninth inning.

The game was played with the roof at Globe Life Field closed for the first time this postseason, due to temperatures dipping into the 40s and the threat of rain. Attendance was 11,447.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher John Curtiss (84) looks on as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) scores on a solo home run in the first inning as Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino (10) looks on during Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays players watch play during the ninth inning of Game 3 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) breaks for first base as his fly ball is caught by Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger (35) during the fourth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) connects for a solo home run in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, second from left, holds the ball while he and teammates wait for Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Ryan Thompson (81) at the mound during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) celebrates his solo home run during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Shane McClanahan (62) delivers in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy hits a two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames (1) is late with the tag as Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) steals second in the fourth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino (10), left, and Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) walk back to the dugout after a Los Angeles Dodgers two-run top of third inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen reacts after giving up a solo home run to Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena in the ninth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts steals second base in front of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames in the sixth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) is tagged out by Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi (26) on a groundout in the fourth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

The Los Angeles Dodgers dugout celebrates a solo home run by Justin Turner against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi (26) tags out Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) during the fourth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Globe Life Field during the opening pitches in Game 3 of the World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) sacrifice bunts for a run in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (21) pitches the second inning against Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) pitches the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) strikes out to end the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shows a clenched fist to people in the stands after a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames (1) attempts to make the tag on Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) as Betts safely steals second base during the sixth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) breaks for first base after connecting for an RBI single, scoring Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson (31) during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10), top, celebrates his solo home run in the first inning with teammate Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (13) against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi (26) makes the tag on Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

From left, Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe (8), shortstop Willy Adames (1), third baseman Joey Wendle (18) and first baseman Ji-Man Choi (26) look on as relief pitcher John Curtiss (84) warms up in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) homers in the first inning against Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson (31) points to the sky after a fourth inning single against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames (1) celebrates his RBI double, scoring Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Manuel Margot (13) during the fifth inning of Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)