ARLINGTON, Texas. – If the Los Angeles Dodgers were still in shock after the way Game 4 of the World Series ended, it didn’t show when they took the field for Game 5 less than 24 hours later.
The team got ace Clayton Kershaw a quick three-run lead, and he did his part by providing the stability on the mound he’s shown all postseason.
At no point was that presence more important than in the fourth inning Sunday, when the Tampa Bay Rays reached into their bag of unconventional tricks once again with a chance to tie.
But Kershaw held firm, and the Dodgers followed suit the rest of the way, finishing off a 4-2 victory at Arlington, Texas, to move one win away from ending their 32-year championship drought.
Down 3-2 with two outs in the fourth, Manuel Margot tried to steal home on Kershaw. While the southpaw was at the highest position of his delivery, Margot made a break for it, forcing Kershaw to step off to avoid a balk before throwing to the plate. His toss home was perfect for catcher Austin Barnes, who laid down the tag narrowly before Margot could get in to maintain the lead.
