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Tribune News Service

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Marc Topkin

Rays' season ends with a 3-1 loss to Dodgers in World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias is mobbed by teammates after the final out in a 3-1 series-clinching win against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Endings are always cruel in the postseason, and this one seems especially so.

The Rays' season ended in a 3-1 loss Tuesday in Game 6 of the World Series, a game they led into the sixth inning — until manager Kevin Cash made a decision that will be long scrutinized, pulling starter Blake Snell, who had been dominant.

The Rays' 1-0 lead disappeared quickly when Cash summoned Nick Anderson after Snell allowed a one-out single to Austin Barnes.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to clinch the series. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Anderson gave up a double to Mookie Betts on his third pitch that put two runners in scoring position. He threw a wild pitch that scored Barnes. He allowed a grounder to first that scored Betts, who scored again in the eighth inning on a solo home run.

And that was pretty much it, though the Rays ongoing offensive struggles were also a factor.

For a Rays team that came into 2020 with grand expectations buoyed by its previous playoff run, that navigated the pandemic delay and abbreviated season to post the top record in the American League, that battled through three rounds of playoffs by twice surviving win-or-go-home games to get to the World Series, it is still going home disappointed.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes throws his equipment in the air as he rushes to celebrate with pitcher Julio Urias after the final out in a 3-1 series-clinching win against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

"You've got to win," shortstop Willy Adames said before the game. "You've got to win. Obviously it's nice to be here, but that's not what we want to do. We want to win at all. To feel like really, really good you have to win it."

This was the Rays' second trip to the Series in their 23-season franchise history, and their second loss, beaten by the Phillies in five games in 2008.

On the other side of Globe Life Field, there was absolute joy. The Dodgers won the Series for the first time since 1988, and much of the credit goes to baseball operations chief Andrew Friedman, who helped transform the Rays into contenders before heading west after the 2014 season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) beats the tag of Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino to score a run in the sixth inning during Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

The Rays jumped out to the early lead they craved Tuesday night, and it was hardly a surprise who got them there: Randy Arozarena, their postseason sensation.

Arozarena's homer to right with one out in the first was his 10th of the postseason, and also his 28th hit, extending two of the records he has rewritten in his breakout month.

But their lack of additional offense also was costly.

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers during the national anthem prior to Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

The Rays could have had more off Dodgers rookie starter Tony Gonsolin when Austin Meadows singled and Brandon Lowe walked, but Manuel Margot flied to right and Joey Wendle struck out.

They compounded their frustration in the second inning when Kevin Kiermaier doubled with one out and Ji-Man Choi, getting a turn in the leadoff slot, walked with two out. With Arozarena due next, the Dodgers brought in Dylan Floro, and the former Rays struck out their current star.

Snell was absolutely dazzling, striking out nine of the first 13 Dodgers, allowing only a Chris Taylor single through the first five innings, and had thrown only 69 pitches. He talked on Sunday about wanting to go deep in the game, and it appeared that he was going to get through six innings for the first time since before his July 2019 elbow surgery.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash takes the ball from starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to clinch the series. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

But then he allowed a one-out single to Barnes in the sixth, completing his second turn through the Dodgers order, and he was out of the game.

Making the decision more questionable, Anderson had not been the dominant pitcher he was during the regular season. Though he allowed just the one hit, with the runs scoring on the wild pitch and the fielder's choice grounder, it was the seventh straight game in which he allowed a run, the longest such stretch in postseason history.