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Tampa Bay Rays: Brandon Lowe finally shakes off postseason slump

ByDavid Hill|
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Brandon Lowe #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Game Two of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 21, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Brandon Lowe #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Game Two of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 21, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The postseason has not been kind to Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe. That changed in a hurry on Wednesday night.

Every kid growing up dreams of reaching the playoffs, of being the hero in a World Series and taking home that championship. However, for Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, the postseason has been a nightmare throughout his major league career. With the Rays in the World Series, and facing off against the favored Dodgers, they need Lowe to catch fire once again.

On Wednesday, he finally showed signs of life in the playoffs. He became just the sixth second baseman to have a two homer game in the World Series, and the first since Chase Utley in 2009.

Prior to Wednesday, Lowe’s struggles had been troublesome. In his 81 postseason plate appearances, he had just ten hits, with a double and two homers, drawing six walks while striking out 29 times.

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There is a mixed history of success for those teams, as they have a 2-3 record in the World Series to this point. Both the 1932 Yankees and the 1959 Dodgers won the series in those seasons, but the last three instances have resulted in defeat over the course of the series. In Utley’s case, his two games with two homers were the only games that the Phillies won.

Those home runs also carried over for the rest of the Rays offense. Tampa Bay had been dragged through the ALCS almost exclusively by the bat of Randy Arozarena, but they cannot rely on him alone to get past the Dodgers. Someone else needs to step up.

Ideally, that would be Lowe. He was the Rays best hitter during the 2020 regular season, posting a .269/.362/.554 batting line with 14 homers and nine doubles in his 224 plate appearances. Having two hot bats in the lineup could be the difference, especially given the Rays bullpen.

Brandon Lowe finally had a breakout playoff game for the Tampa Bay Rays. They need him to stay hot in order to win the World Series.

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