LOS ANGELES (CNS) - An unprecedented performance by Mookie Betts and Clayton Kershaw limiting the Tampa Bay Rays to two hits over six innings carried the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-3 victory Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series.
Betts became the first player in a World Series game to hit a homerun, steal two bases and score two runs. Betts joined Babe Ruth as the only players in World Series history with a walk and two stolen bases in the same inning.
Kershaw struck out eight to move into second on the career postseason strikeout list with 201, passing Hall of Famer John Smoltz. Smoltz was the analyst on Fox's telecast of the game.
Justin Verlander is the career postseason strikeout leader with 205.
Betts walked leading off the Dodgers four-run fifth inning, then stole second. The next batter, Corey Seager, walked. Betts and Seager then executed a double steal with Justin Turner at bat.
After Turner struck out, Max Muncy grounded to first baseman Yandy Diaz. Betts broke for home and beat Diaz's throw to the plate, increasing the Dodgers lead to 3-1.
Ryan Yarbrough relieved Tampa Bay starter Tyler Glasnow, allowing a single to the first batter he faced, Will Smith, which drove in Seager and advanced Muncy to third. One out later, Chris Taylor singled in Muncy.
Pinch-hitter Kike Hernandez, the eighth Dodger batter of the inning, singled in Smith from second for the inning's fourth run.
The Dodgers became the seventh team to steal three bases in one inning of a World Series game and the first since the New York Giants in Game 6 of the 1912 World Series.
Betts led off the seventh by homering on reliever Josh Fleming's first pitch. Turner doubled one out later. Muncy followed with a double, driving in Turner.
The Dodgers opened the scoring in the second on Cody Bellinger's two-run homer.
Kershaw retired 13 consecutive batters from the first through fifth innings. Kevin Kiermaier ended the streak with a two-out homer in the fifth.
The other hit Kershaw allowed was Diaz's single leading off the first.
The Rays scored their other two runs in the seventh. Manuel Margot and Joey Wendle hit back-to-back doubles with one out off Dylan Floro, the second Dodger pitcher, driving in Margot.
Victor Gonzalez relieved Floro, and allowed an RBI single by the first batter he faced, pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau. Kiermaier followed with a single, giving Tampa Bay runners on first and second.
Mike Zunino hit a line drive that was caught by Gonzalez who threw to Hernandez to double off Brosseau to end the inning.
Glasnow, a 2011 graduate of William S. Hart High School in Santa Clarita, was charged with the loss, allowing six runs on three hits, walking six and striking out eight in 4 1/3 innings.
Glasnow became the sixth pitcher in World Series history with at least eight strikeouts while pitching less than five innings. He was the third pitcher in World Series history to permit at least six runs on three hits or less.
Rookie Randy Arozarena, the MVP of the Rays seven-game victory over the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series, was hitless in three at-bats with a walk.
The team winning Game 1 of the World Series has won the series 72 of 115 times, 62.6% percent, including 14 of the last 17 series and 19 of 22.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Wednesday. The entire Series will be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The final three rounds of baseball's postseason are being played at neutral sites in an attempt to reduce the possibility of spreading the coronavirus.
This is the first time the entire World Series is being played at the same stadium since 1944, when the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the St. Louis Browns in six games at Sportsman's Park, the home stadium for both teams.
Photos: Getty Images
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