LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles Dodgers were unable to overcome a five-run deficit in Game 2 of the World Series Wednesday night, despite home runs by Chris Taylor, Will Smith and Corey Seager in a 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Dodgers were hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position, including Max Muncy flying out, Smith popping out and Cody Bellinger striking out in the eighth inning when they represented the potential tying run and Justin Turner on second base with a double.
The best-of-seven series is tied at one game apiece. Game 3 will be played Friday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas where the entire series is being played because of the coronavirus.
Of the 59 previous times the Series has been tied at one game apiece, the Game 3 winner has gone on to win the Series 38 times, 64.4%.
Rookie right-hander Tony Gonsolin started for the Dodgers and allowed a solo home run to the second batter he faced, Brandon Lowe.
Tampa Bay increased its lead to 3-0 in the fourth on a two-out, two-run double by Joey Wendle off Dustin May, the fourth of seven Dodgers pitchers.
Lowe hit a two-run, two-out homer off May in the fifth.
After being held hitless for the first 4 2/3 innings by left-hander Blake Snell, Taylor, the No. 9 hitter in the Dodgers lineup, homered in the bottom of the fifth, driving in Kike Hernández, who had walked with two outs.
The Rays took a 6-2 lead in the sixth. Ji-Man Choi singled leading off the inning and scored on Wendle's sacrifice fly.
Smith hit a one-out solo homer in the Dodgers half of the sixth. Seager homered leading off the eighth.
Gonsolin was charged with the loss, allowing one run and one hit in 1 1/3 innings.
Nick Anderson, the second of five Tampa Bay pitchers, was credited with the victory, allowing one run and one hit in 1 1/3 innings. Diego Castillo struck out Taylor, the only batter he faced, to end the game and earned the save.
Snell allowed two runs and two hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out nine and walking four. He was one out short of pitching the minimum five innings required for a victory.
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