Tampa Bays rookie outfielder Randy Arozarena tied the major league record for home runs in a single postseason on Friday night during the Rays’ 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series at Arlington, Texas.
Arozarena turned on 3-2 pitch from Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen with two outs in the ninth inning, sending a line drive down the left field line for a solo home run.
It was Arozarena’s eighth homer of the 2020 postseason, tying the record shared by Barry Bonds (2002 San Francisco Giants), Carlos Beltran (2004 Houston Astros) and Nelson Cruz (2011 Texas Rangers).
Arozarena, 25, is hitting .354 (23-for-65) during the 2020 postseason and has piled up 15 runs, 52 total bases and 11 RBIs in 17 games. He hit .281 with seven home runs and 11 RBIs in 23 regular-season games for the Rays in the pandemic-shortened campaign.
The loss, however, leaves the Rays trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven World Series. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday night.
