The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday night. While the Dodgers offense took part in heavy lifting against Charlie Morton and Reese Bullpen, the show’s star was right-handed starter Walker Buler.
Buhler, 26, allowed one run on three hits (while Reyes was tied in the first four innings) and one walkover in six innings of work. He struck out 10 batsmen along the way, becoming the youngest double-punch pitcher in a World Series game, as Josh Beckett did in 2003 at the age of 23. According to Sarah Lenz of MLB.com. (Beckett, at the time, was a member of the Florida Marlins.) Became the first batsman in World Series history to score 10 or more runs in six innings or less.
Buhler forced 18 hits on 93 pitches overnight, or more than a third of the swords the Rays took against him. The pitch that was most effective in producing empty swings was four seam fastball. Breast heater at night. Breast .9 breast .9.
Bueller entered Game 3 and started the four-post season. In that round, he scored a 1.89 ER. And had gathered against an OPS.619. Buhler has now played six innings in a row for the first time – not to mention that he was already limited in the playoffs due to blister issues.
The Dodgers now have a 2-1 lead in the top seven series. According to the website WhoWins.com, MLB teams that have had the same advantage in the seven-game series have won more than 70 percent of the matches. Teams that take advantage of the home field – and dodge, even if it’s a bubble – have won more than 75 percent of those matches.
The Dodgers, then, appear to be in a very good position to win their first World Series in decades – and Bueller is one reason.
