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Los Angeles Times

Sport

Bill Shaikin

Dodgers' Austin Barnes matches World Series bunt, homer feat not done since 1961

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)

The year was 1961, and the New York Yankees were in the World Series again. It was the year Roger Maris hit 61 home runs, breaking Babe Ruth's record that had lasted beyond the Great Depression, the Second World War and the integration of the major leagues.

Maris and Mickey Mantle were the leading men on the Yankees. Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford were headliners too. Who remembers Hector Lopez?

The year is 2020, and the Dodgers are in the World Series again. The Dodgers are the team of Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, of Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, of Corey Seager and Justin Turner. Who is going to remember Austin Barnes?

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 the Dodgers win, every good Dodgers fan should. Barnes did something Friday that only Lopez had done over the first 115 years of the World Series.

In 1961, Lopez hit a home run and had a squeeze bunt in the same game. The Yankees won the series.

On Friday, Barnes hit a home run and had a squeeze bunt.

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)

The Dodgers are halfway to their first World Series championship since 1988.

The Dodgers are in the World Series for the third time in four years. This is the first time they have taken a two-games-to-one lead in the World Series since 1988.

They hear you, Los Angeles. They feel your pain.

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)

"Everybody's aware of the drought in L.A.," Barnes said. "The fans are itching for a championship."

Barnes gets it. He was born in Fullerton, Calif., raised in Riverside. He is 30, and the Dodgers have not won a championship in his lifetime.

Buehler was the star of stars Friday, striking out 10 Tampa Bay batters over six innings of the Dodgers' 6-2 victory. But Barnes earned a more than honorable mention, driving in runs in successive plate appearances: a squeeze bunt in the fourth inning, a solo home run the sixth.

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)

That is a pretty fair output for a backup catcher. Barnes has backed up a quintet of catchers during his tenure in Los Angeles: A.J. Ellis, Carlos Ruiz, Yasmani Grandal, Russell Martin and now Will Smith.

"Between (Smith) and Barnes, we probably have the best catching combination in the league, in our opinion," Kershaw said. "It shows."

Barnes has established himself as valuable if for no other reason than the pitchers he shepherds. In the regular season, he has become Kershaw's personal catcher. In the postseason, he has become Buehler's personal catcher.

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)

That is pretty good job security. His ability to bunt is helpful as well and, in a year with the designated hitter, pretty rare. The Dodgers now have four sacrifice bunts this season, three by Barnes.

"If they ask you to do something," he said, "you need to do it."

In Friday's game, the Tampa Bay coaches were yelling from the dugout, warning their players of a possible squeeze, but Barnes put down such a good one that the Rays were helpless in defending it.

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)

Still, when he tells the next generations of his family about his place in the World Series record book, he said any bragging would not be about the bunt.

"Probably the homer," he said. "It's a cool little stat, but it's not easy to barrel the ball up against all these really good pitchers."

The Dodgers did not include Barnes on their playoff roster last year, preferring Martin and Smith. But, in the three recent World Series trips, Barnes has been their guy.

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)

In the 15 World Series games the Dodgers have played over the last four years, Barnes has started 13. Grandal struggled to hit the ball in 2017 and struggled to catch the ball in 2018, losing his spot to Barnes each October.

However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team regarded Barnes more highly than just as the only other guy left to catch. Barnes calls a good game, excels on defense and does not give away an at-bat.

"It just shows how much we trust him in big games," Roberts said Friday. "He's done it for us time and time again, and he had a fantastic night."

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)

In the 2018 World Series, Barnes went hitless. In 2020, he already has a home run, and a place in the World Series record book. There is a lot of hospitality in this neutral site World Series, so much so that the home state already has named a town after Barnes.

Austin, Texas.