Clayton Kershaw provided the stability the Dodgers needed on Sunday night, turning in a stellar performance highlighted by a legendary pitch. The team is now on the verge of breaking a championship drought that dates back to 1988.
As Clayton Kershaw took the mound on Sunday night, he steadied his team with a sensational performance, plus one particular pitch that will long be remembered. Now with one game away from victory, the Dodgers would claim their first title since 1988.
Kershaw has now beaten the Rays twice in just six days. Despite a scare in the fourth inning, he stayed sharp, throwing out a runner trying to steal home to kill the rally. This effort helped the Dodgers secure a 4-2 win and a 3-2 advantage in the Series.
The scoring opened in the first inning thanks to Mookie Betts and Corey Seager, putting two on the board. The momentum continued in the second with a massive 428-foot home run by Pederson, and Max Muncy later added another homer to bring the total to four runs.
While history shows that 30 of 46 teams with a 3-2 lead after Game 5 go on to win it all, the recent track record is weaker, with only six of the last 14 doing so. A prime example is the Houston Astros, who failed to close out the series despite holding a 3-2 lead last year.
While Tampa Bay has confirmed Blake Snell as their starter for Tuesday, the Dodgers are still undecided on who will take the mound for Game 6.
With a regular-season record of 175-76, five ERA titles, and an MVP award, Kershaw is firmly established as one of the greatest in Dodgers history. His dominance in the opening games of both the 2017 and current World Series has been nothing short of impressive.
He wrapped up his outing having allowed two runs on five hits, while recording six strikeouts and two walks. Across two starts in this Series, he's currently 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA over 15 2/3 innings, racking up 14 strikeouts. Additionally, Kershaw has set a new postseason milestone with 207 career strikeouts, surpassing Justin Verlander's previous record.
After establishing a 3-0 cushion, Kershaw stumbled slightly in the third, giving up two runs following hits by Kevin Kiermaier, Yandy Diaz, and Arozarena. The lead shrunk to a single run, but Max Muncy helped regain some breathing room with a score in the fifth.
On the opposing side, Glasnow struggled, giving up six hits and four runs over five innings. This leaves him with an 0-2 record and a high 9.64 ERA for the Series. The two home runs he surrendered bring his postseason total to nine, a record low for a single run.