ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — First, it was Dylan Floro. And then Alex Wood, Pedro Báez, Victor González, Brusdar Graterol and finally, Julio Urías. The Los Angeles Dodgers relied on their bullpen in a World Series-clinching 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 on Tuesday night. Floro, Wood, Báez, González, Graterol and Urías combined for 7 1/3 innings of two-hit ball after Tony Gonsolin was pulled in the second. “Those guys won us that game,” catcher Austin Barnes said. Gonsolin allowed Randy Arozarena's homer in the first and departed with runners on first and second. Floro came in and struck out Arozarena, ending the inning. Wood pitched two innings before Báez got two outs. González entered with Arozarena on first and retired Austin Meadows on a grounder to second, ending the fifth. After González struck out the side in the sixth, Graterol got two outs and Urías finished for the save. The 24-year-old Urias went 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA in six postseason appearances, including two starts.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — First, it was Dylan Floro. And then Alex Wood, Pedro Báez, Victor González, Brusdar Graterol and finally, Julio Urías. The Los Angeles Dodgers relied on their bullpen in a World Series-clinching 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 on Tuesday night. Floro, Wood, Báez, González, Graterol and Urías combined for 7 1/3 innings of two-hit ball after Tony Gonsolin was pulled in the second. “Those guys won us that game,” catcher Austin Barnes said. Gonsolin allowed Randy Arozarena's homer in the first and departed with runners on first and second. Floro came in and struck out Arozarena, ending the inning. Wood pitched two innings before Báez got two outs. González entered with Arozarena on first and retired Austin Meadows on a grounder to second, ending the fifth. After González struck out the side in the sixth, Graterol got two outs and Urías finished for the save. The 24-year-old Urias went 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA in six postseason appearances, including two starts.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Charlie Morton started the day Tuesday not knowing if he will pitch in a Game 7 of the World Series with his Tampa Bay Rays facing elimination against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander also didn't know if he would pitch again at all, since Morton has already indicated he might retire if the Rays don't pick up the $15 million option on his contract for next season. Morton turns 37 next month. “I’ve been thinking about it,” Morton said before Game 6, with Tampa Bay trailing 3-2 in the Series. “Will it be the last time I put on a uniform? Will it be the last time I put on a Rays uniform? Hopefully not. It just goes back to the situation, what it’s looking like this offseason into next year.” If there is a Game 7, LA ace Walker Buehler would oppose Morton in a winner-take-all finale of the neutral-site Fall Classic at the home of the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night. It would be a rematch of Game 3, won 6-2 by the Dodgers when Buehler struck out 10 and allowed... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Muncy knew, right away. He flung his bat down as the ball sailed toward the seats in right-center. It was long gone. Muncy connected for a big solo homer Sunday night, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 in Game 5 of the World Series. The 30-year-old Muncy, who played high school baseball about 25 miles from the new Texas Rangers ballpark, went deep against Tyler Glasnow with two outs in the fifth inning. Muncy's second career World Series homer traveled an estimated 434 feet and gave Los Angeles a 4-2 lead. “When you connect on 100 miles an hour, there’s probably not a better feeling out there than that,” Muncy said. “That’s one of those things where I didn’t actually feel it hit the bat.” The Dodgers took a 3-2 in the Series in pursuit of their first championship since 1988. Game 6 is Tuesday night. Muncy also was involved in another big play, helping alert left-hander Clayton Kershaw to Manuel Margot's attempted steal of home in the... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Muncy knew, right away. He flung his bat down as the ball sailed toward the seats in right-center. It was long gone. Muncy connected for a big solo homer Sunday night, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 in Game 5 of the World Series. The 30-year-old Muncy, who played high school baseball about 25 miles from the new Texas Rangers ballpark, went deep against Tyler Glasnow with two outs in the fifth inning. Muncy's second career World Series homer traveled an estimated 434 feet and gave Los Angeles a 4-2 lead. “When you connect on 100 miles an hour, there’s probably not a better feeling out there than that,” Muncy said. “That’s one of those things where I didn’t actually feel it hit the bat.” Muncy also was involved in another big play, helping alert left-hander Clayton Kershaw to Manuel Margot's attempted steal of home in the fourth. Kershaw alertly stepped off the rubber and threw to catcher Austin Barnes for the final out of the inning.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brett Phillips got so excited in the aftermath of his two-out single in the ninth inning of Game 4, the one that started a wild game-ending play with two errors and two runs for Tampa Bay in an 8-7 victory, that he got sick. Phillips' head started pounding, and the athletic training staff covered his head with a towel to calm him after the crazy celebration that followed the Los Angeles Dodgers' miscues that allowed Randy Arozarena to score the winning run from first base. “During the celebration, just exhausting a lot of energy, and I almost passed out. I didn’t realize I was dehydrated,” Phillips said Sunday. "I had to get an IV — first time, getting an IV. ... When I went to the training room, my resting heart rate was over 140 just laying there. They were like, ‘We’ve got to chill you down. Chill out.’ But it was all worth it. Just a little hyperventilation going on inside me.” Phillips said he had a little more than 500 text messages when he got back to the... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A second error has been charged to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the wild play that ended Game 4 of the World Series, when the Tampa Bay Rays scored twice for an 8-7 victory. Major League Baseball said Sunday that official scorer Steve Weller, after reviewing the play from the previous night, charged catcher Will Smith with an error that allowed the winning run to score. There were two outs and runners on first and second when light-hitting Brett Phillips flared a single into right-center field. Chris Taylor tried to scoop up the ball, but instead knocked it away him while the tying run scored. That error allowed Randy Arozarena an extra base, from first to third. Arozarena was waved home as Taylor recovered the ball and threw to first baseman Max Muncy for a relay throw to Smith. A step in front of the plate and slightly up the first-base line, Smith tried to catch the ball and make a sweeping tag in one motion. Except the ball went off his glove. "I saw Arozarena,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — It was improbable enough that little-known Brett Phillips would get the big hit for Tampa Bay against Dodgers All-Star closer Kenley Jansen. What followed was outright inconceivable. Phillips’ tying single with two outs in the ninth inning turned into a game-ending hit when the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the ball twice, allowing Randy Arozarena to stumble home as the winning run in the Rays’ 8-7 victory in World Series Game 4 on Saturday night. It was undoubtedly one of the wildest endings in World Series history. Arozarena tripped and fell on his way home and had begun retreating to third base when catcher Will Smith misplayed a relay feed. Arozarena about-faced and dived toward home, pounding on the plate with a big smile while Phillips burst into tears in the outfield. “Man, baseball is fun,” Phillips said. Walk-off homers are one thing — think Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk and Bill Mazeroski, among many others. But a finish this wacky has only a few precedents in... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — It was improbable enough that light-hitting journeyman Brett Phillips would connect for Tampa Bay against Dodgers All-Star closer Kenley Jansen. What followed was outright inconceivable. Phillips’ tying single with two outs in the ninth inning turned into a game-ending hit when the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the ball twice, allowing Randy Arozarena to stumble home as the winning run in the Rays’ 8-7 victory in World Series Game 4 on Saturday night. It was undoubtedly one of the wildest endings in World Series history. Arozarena tripped and fell on his way home and had begun retreating to third when catcher Will Smith misplayed a relay feed. Arozarena about-faced and dived toward home, pounding on the plate with a big smile while Phillips burst into tears in the outfield. “Man, baseball is fun,” Phillips said. Walk-off homers are one thing — think Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk and Bill Mazeroski, among many others. But a finish this wacky has only a few precedents in... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hours after slugging his way into World Series history, Randy Arozarena stumbled into October lore. Is there anything this rookie can't do? The winning run the Cuban sensation scored in a frenetic ninth inning will have fans talking for years after the Tampa Bay Rays stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 Saturday night, tying the matchup at two games apiece. “Randy’s not used to having to run like that. Normally he’s just trotting,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Those same folks might want to remember that much earlier, the 25-year-old outfielder passed Barry Bonds among others for the most home runs in a single postseason. He then joined the top of the list for hits as well. Arozarena's solo homer leading off the fourth opened the scoring for the Rays and was his ninth of the postseason, and sent him past the previous record of eight shared by Bonds (2002, San Francisco), Carlos Beltran (2005, Houston) and Nelson Cruz (2011, Texas). None of those three won the World... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hours after slugging his way into World Series history, Randy Arozarena stumbled into October lore. Is there anything this rookie can't do? The winning run the Cuban sensation scored in a frenetic ninth inning will have fans talking for years after the Tampa Bay Rays stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 Saturday night, tying the matchup at two games apiece. “Randy’s not used to having to run like that. Normally he’s just trotting,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Those same folks might want to remember that much earlier, the 25-year-old outfielder passed Barry Bonds among others for the most home runs in a single postseason. He then joined the top of the list for hits as well. Arozarena's solo homer leading off the fourth opened the scoring for the Rays and was his ninth of the postseason, and sent him past the previous record of eight shared by Bonds (2002, San Francisco), Carlos Beltran (2005, Houston) and Nelson Cruz (2011, Texas). None of those three won the World... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kenley Jansen threw a cutter inside to Brett Phillips for a ball, then a cutter and a sinker for called strikes. One strike to go, and the Los Angeles Dodgers would be one win from the World Series title that has eluded them since 1988. The 33-year-old right-hander had faltered this year, lost velocity, but bounced back. He assured Dodgers fans, and so did manager Dave Roberts. Kevin Kiermaier was on second after a one-out single and Randy Arozarena on first following a two-out walk. Just one more strike to a hitter who figured to be overmatched. After all, Phillips hadn't even been on Tampa Bay's AL Championship Series roster, had not gotten a hit since Sept. 25. He wasn't even with the Rays until an Aug. 27 trade from Kansas City. Jansen threw a cutter to the left-handed batter, over the middle and knee high. And the night came undone for Jansen and the Dodgers. Phillips flared the ball into center field at 83 mph for a single and it bounced twice. Just before... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kenley Jansen threw a cutter inside to Brett Phillips for a ball, then a cutter and a sinker for called strikes. One strike to go, and the Los Angeles Dodgers would be one win from the World Series title that has eluded them since 1988. The 33-year-old right-hander had faltered this year, lost velocity, but bounced back. He assured Dodgers fans, and so did manager Dave Roberts. Kevin Kiermaier was on second after a one-out single and Randy Arozarena on first following a two-out walk. Just one more strike to a hitter who figured to be overmatched. After all, Phillips hadn't even been on the Rays' AL Championship Series roster, had not gotten a hit since Sept. 25. He wasn't even with Tampa Bay until an Aug. 27 trade from Kansas City. Jansen threw a cutter to the left-handed batter, over the middle and knee high. And the night came undone for Jansen and the Dodgers. Phillips drove the ball into center field for a single and it bounced twice. Just before it was to land... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hours after slugging his way into World Series history, Randy Arozarena stumbled into October lore. Is there anything this rookie can't do? The winning run the Cuban sensation scored in a frenetic ninth inning will have fans talking for years after the Tampa Bay Rays stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 Saturday night, tying the matchup at two games apiece. “Randy’s not used to having to run like that. Normally he’s usually trotting,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Those same folks might want to remember that much earlier, the 25-year-old outfielder passed Barry Bonds among others for the most home runs in a single postseason. He then joined the top of the list for hits as well. Arozarena's solo homer leading off the fourth opened the scoring for the Rays and was his ninth of the postseason, and sent him past the previous record of eight shared by Bonds (2002, San Francisco), Carlos Beltran (2005, Houston) and Nelson Cruz (2011, Texas). None of those three won the... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brett Phillips was acquired by Tampa Bay in a trade with Kansas City in August. It seemed like a minor move right up until late Saturday night. The 26-year-old Phillips came up with the biggest swing of his career in Game 4 of the World Series, hitting a two-out single in the ninth that sent the Rays to a wild 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Phillips' first career postseason hit drove in Kevin Kiermaier, tying it at 7. Randy Arozarena then scored the winning run when catcher Will Smith was unable to catch a throw to the plate. "Man, baseball is fun,” Phillips said. It was the first plate appearance for Phillips since Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees on Oct. 7. He entered Game 4 against the Dodgers in the eighth inning as a pinch runner. “Brett Phillips ... Put him on the roster for a defensive replacement, baserunner-type of guy. He knows his role," Kiermaier said. “Comes up, biggest at-bat of his life, comes through.” Phillips,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brett Phillips was acquired by Tampa Bay in a trade with Kansas City in July. It seemed like a minor move right up until late Saturday night. The 26-year-old Phillips came up with the biggest swing of his career in Game 4 of the World Series, hitting a two-out single in the ninth that sent the Rays to a wild 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Phillips' first career postseason hit drove in Kevin Kiermaier, tying it at 7. Randy Arozarena then scored the winning run when catcher Will Smith was unable to catch a throw to the plate. "Man, baseball is fun,” Phillips said. It was the first plate appearance for Phillips since Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees on Oct. 7. He entered Game 4 against the Dodgers in the eighth inning as a pinch runner. “Brett Phillips ... Put him on the roster for a defensive replacement, baserunner-type of guy. He knows his role," Kiermaier said. “Comes up, biggest at-bat of his life, comes through.” Phillips,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — With two down, the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered time and time again. It still wasn't enough. All the Dodgers’ runs in Saturday night’s wild 8-7 World Series loss to the Tampa Bay Rays crossed the plate with two outs, raising their total to 57 of 94 in the postseason. The 60.6% clip is on track for a postseason record, topping the previous high of 59.3% by the 1992 Atlanta Braves. But for all their clutch hitting, the Dodgers couldn't make the last pitch they needed to close out Game 4. Brett Phillips' two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning off closer Kenley Jansen scored Kevin Kiermaier from second base with the tying run and brought home Randy Arozarena all the way from first when center fielder Chris Taylor bobbled the ball for an error and Los Angeles botched a relay to the plate. Before the astonishing finish, the teams became the first in Series play to score in eight consecutive half innings — two more than the previous high set by the Dodgers and... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 11:20 p.m. The Tampa Bay Rays pulled off a stunning rally in the bottom of the ninth inning when Brett Phillips’ two-out single and a pair of Dodgers misplays resulted in two runs that beat Los Angeles 8-7 and tied the World Series at two games each. In a game full of late drama, the final turn came out of nowhere. The Dodgers, on the verge of a 3-1 lead in a push for their first title since 1988, took a 7-6 lead into the ninth. Kevin Kiermaier blooped a single with one out off Kenley Jansen and Randy Arozarena walked with two outs. Phillips, who batted a combined .196 for Kansas City and Tampa Bay this year, hit a soft single that Chris Taylor bobbled as the tying run scored. Arozarena appeared to be a sure out when he stumbled halfway home, but catcher Will Smith lost control of the ball as he spun around for a tag, allowing the winning run to score. Three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Outfielder Brett Phillips and left-hander Ryan Sherriff have been added to the Tampa Bay Rays' roster for the World Series. Right-hander Aaron Slegers and left-hander José Alvarado were dropped Tuesday before the opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tampa Bay goes with 13 pitchers, one fewer than during the AL Championship Series against Houston, which was played on seven consecutive days. The World Series has off days after Games 2 and 5. The Dodgers did not make any changes from their NL Championship Series roster against Atlanta and will carry 15 pitchers and 13 position players. Phillips was 0 for 2 in the Division Series against the New York Yankees, appearing in three games, and he played once without an at-bat in the first round against Toronto. Sherriff has not pitched since the final day of the regular season on Sept. 27. He figures to be used at high-leverage times against Dodgers left-handed batters, a group that includes Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson and Max Muncy. Sherriff joins Aaron Loup, Josh Fleming, Shane McClanahan and Ryan Yarbrough as lefties in the bullpen. Slegers pitched 3 2/3 innings over two appearances against the Astros and had one appearance against the Yankees. Alvarado pitched 1 2/3 innings over two games against Houston. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have added left-handers José Alvarado and Josh Fleming to their roster for the AL Championship Series against the Houston Astros. With those additions, outfielder Brett Phillips and right-hander Trevor Richards did not make the ALCS roster but remain in the 60-man postseason eligible-player pool. To make room for Alvarado on the 40-man roster, right-hander Oliver Drake was designated for assignment. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports