October 24, 2020, will be recorded in Dodgers’ history as one of the most embarrassing games played by a team in any World Series.

With the opportunity to take a commanding three-games-to-one lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 Fall Classic, the team managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

How ugly was the Dodgers performance on baseball’s biggest stage?

• Corey Seager, Justin Turner, and Joc Pederson had a combined 10-hits in 12-at bats, five runs scored, five RBI, and left only one runner on base. The other Dodgers hitters totaled five hits in 28 At-Bats and left 21 runners on base.
• Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger had zero hits in their combined nine At-Bats while stranding five runners on base.
• Relief pitchers Blake Treinen, Pedro Báez, and Kenley Jansen allowed a combined six runs (five earned) in their combined three innings of work for an atrocious 15.00 ERA.
• Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reverted to his old postseason form of once again over-managing his pitching staff by pulling Julio Urías and Brusdar Graterol too soon, and putting Pedro Baez in the game with runners on base, and using very unreliable Kenley Jansen to (try to) close out the game.
• The final play of the game was reminiscent of a lower-level Little League game, with runners circling the bases as Dodger centerfielder Chris Taylor, first baseman Max Muncy, and catcher Will Smith combined for two errors that allowed the winning run to score from first base.
• Kenley Jansen’s mental error, failing to back up Will Smith, allowed the Rays’ Randy Arozarena to score, even though he fell down between third base and home.

Will the Dodgers recover mentally from this disastrous game? Even though the Series is tied at two games apiece, it feels like the Rays are now the favorites, as momentum is now clearly in their clubhouse.

The Dodgers have proven to be resilient in their three previous 2020 postseason tournaments, including winning the final three games of the National League Championship Series against a very good Atlanta Braves team to advance to the World Series.

There is no doubt that the Dodgers have the ability to be World Champions this year, but they cannot afford another ugly game like the one on Saturday night.