There have been 116 World Series in the 151-year history of Major League Baseball history. In Game-3 of the 2020 World Series being played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX on Friday night, three Dodgers etched their names into the World Series history books.

In what can only be described as one of the greatest World Series pitching performances of all time, 25-year-old Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler struck out 10 Tampa Bay Rays batters in his 6.0 innings pitched.

Oh sure, one can certainly argue that the game today is nothing like it once was. Rarely do pitchers go longer than seven innings, and a complete game is unheard of these days – World Series or otherwise. In fact, Buehler’s feat pales in comparison to the 11 strikeouts that Dodgers Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax had through six innings en route to his 15 strikeout game in Game-1 of the 1963 World Series, and Hall of Famer Bob Gibson through six innings in his 17 strikeout game in Game-1 of the 1968 Fall Classic. Moe Drabowsky also struck out 11 in 6.2 innings in a 1966 WS game. But today’s game ‘is what it is’ (as kids today say), and Buehler’s accomplishment was nonetheless historic.

“I haven’t wrapped my head around all that he’s accomplished in such a short period of time,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the Lexington, KY native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2016 out of Vanderbilt University. “Being a big-game pitcher and really succeeding on this stage, there’s only a few guys currently and in history. He’s in some really elite company. I’m just happy he’s wearing a Dodger uniform.”

“That might have been the best I’ve ever seen his stuff, really,” echoed Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes.

Speaking of Austin Barnes, he also etched his name into World Series lore on Friday night by becoming the first player to drive in a run via a bunt and a home run since New York Yankees left fielder Héctor López did so during Game 5 of the 1961 World Series. López’s bunt off of Cincinnati Reds knuckleballer Bob Purkey allowed Yankees right fielder Johnny Blanchard to score from third.

Barnes’ perfectly executed suicide squeeze down the first base line came in the top of the fourth inning off of 36-year-old Rays right-hander Charlie Morton that allowed Dodgers centerfielder Cody Bellinger to score easily from third base to give the Dodgers a (then) 4-0 lead.

Barnes then hit a solo home run off of Rays right-hander John Curtiss in the top of the sixth inning to complete the extremely rare bunt/home run feat.

Asked which of the two he would be more likely to brag about, the 30-year-old Fullerton, CA native and ninth-round draft pick in 2011 by the Miami Marlins out of Arizona State University admitted it would be the home run.

“Probably the homer,” Barnes answered. “It’s a cool little stat, but it’s not easy to barrel the ball up against all these really good pitchers.”

And then there’s soon-to-be (on November 23) 36-year-old Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who has had a 2020 season that kids 10 years younger are envious of – COVID-19-shortened-season notwithstanding.

Turner’s first-inning solo home run tied him with Dodgers Hall of Famer Duke Snider for most postseason home runs by a Dodger (11), and his double in the third inning tied him with Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer Chipper Jones for most postseason doubles (18) by a third baseman in MLB history. Turner’s 18 career postseason doubles also ranks second all-time behind only St. Louis Cardinals future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina (19) for most postseason doubles – regardless of position – in National League history.

“I don’t think I ever thought about it or it ever crossed my mind, but it’s something that’s pretty cool that I can talk about when I’m done playing,” Turner said during his postgame Zoom interview. “It doesn’t mean a whole lot until we finish this thing off and win two more games.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

Play Ball!

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