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Tampa Bay Rays: Randy Arozarena makes history with one swing

By David Hill |
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 23: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in Game Three of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 23, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 23: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in Game Three of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 23, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

With one swing of the bat, Tampa Bay Rays slugger Randy Arozarena made MLB playoff history on Friday.

Game Three of the 2020 World Series did not go as the Tampa Bay Rays had hoped. The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead, and Walker Buehler did the rest as the Rays fell 6-2. Even worse, they fell behind two games to one in the series.

However, there was one positive on the night. With his ninth inning home run, Randy Arozarena made postseason history.

As Derek Jeter himself had become known for his postseason heroics, Arozarena’s accomplishment is all the more impressive. After all, Jeter earned the nickname Mr. November because of his playoff exploits.

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But that was not the only record that Arozarena set with that swing. He also hit his eighth home run of the postseason, making him the fourth player to reach that mark. Arozarena has now tied Barry Bonds (2002), Carlos Beltran (2004), and Nelson Cruz (2011) in that club, and with at least two games left, has a chance to set a new benchmark.

However, that record is bittersweet. None of that trio won the World Series in the year they hit eight homers. Bonds and Cruz saw their teams fall in seven games in the World Series, while Beltran was eliminated in the NLCS, making his accomplishment even more impressive.

If the Rays are going to avoid the same fate, they need Arozarena to get back on track. After being white hot through the postseason, he has dramatically cooled off during the World Series, with just two hits in 13 plate appearances. Hopefully, that home run will be the start of another hot streak.

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The Tampa Bay Rays had one positive in Game Three of the World Series – Randy Arozarena made history in the ninth inning.

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