The Tampa Bay Rays evened the World Series at 2-2 with a walkoff win in an all-time classic game on Saturday night in Arlington, and the final play was one of the wildest we’ve seen on baseball’s biggest stage.
Up 7-6, the Dodgers handed the ball to star closer Kenley Jansen in the bottom of the ninth, but after opening with a strikeout, Kevin Kiermaier got on base with a single to center. Joey Wendle lined out to bring the Dodgers within one out of a 3-1 lead, but Randy Arozarena drew a crucial walk on a 7-pitch at-bat after falling behind in the count 1-2.
For the Dodgers, not allowing Arozarena to decide the game with his bat was a victory, as he’s been the Rays’ hottest player. With two men on base, the Rays were forced to rely on little-used reserve Brett Phillips, who previously had just two at-bats in the 2020 playoffs. In the biggest moment of his career, Phillips delivered, lining a ball into right center that was guaranteed to tie the game.
RAYS WIN! RAYS WIN! WHAT JUST HAPPENED!! WOW! pic.twitter.com/2G1vyOFkji
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 25, 2020
The Dodgers should have been able to recover and prevent a second run from scoring, but centerfielder Chris Taylor misfielded the ball, which led the Rays to send Arozarena home.
Arozarena stumbled as he rounded third to come home on the play, though, and was momentarily caught out as he started to track back. Cutoff man Max Muncy’s throw home got past Will Smith, allowing Arozarena to change direction again and slide in to score the winning run.
The Rays are the first team to win a 9-inning World Series game that they trailed entering the bottom of the 9th since the Diamondbacks in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2020
Fans watching the game were blown away by the ending.
Wow man!!! #WorldSeries
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 25, 2020
— Brandon Crawford (@bcraw35) October 25, 2020
WHAT. A. MOMENT.
WHAT. A. GAME.
We’ve got ourselves a series!! @RaysBaseball @Dodgers
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) October 25, 2020
😱
— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) October 25, 2020
