The Los Angeles Dodgers winning their first World Series since 1988 came with several memorable plays and moments, which DodgerBlue.com has begun ranking. At No. 9 on the list was Clayton Kershaw stepping off the mound to throw out Manuel Margot on his attempt to steal home.
The momentum-shifting play came in the fourth inning of Game 5 of the World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers were clinging to a 3-2 lead in a pivotal swing game that was going to put them or the Tampa Bay Rays on the brink of elimination.
Kershaw wasn’t his sharpest facing the Rays a second time, though he was also let down some by the defense behind him. After Margot worked a leadoff walk, he stole second base and took third when Chris Taylor dropped the throw.
After a Hunter Renfroe walk put two on with nobody out, Kershaw retired the next two batters faced. Then with Kevin Kiermaier at the plate, Margot attempted to time Kershaw’s delivery on his break for home.
Max Muncy and Justin Turner both shouted to bring attention to the attempt, and Kershaw quickly stepped off the rubber to throw to Austin Barnes for the tag.
“I wasn’t really anticipating it but I have talked to first baseman in the past, and Muncy, I talked with him about it,” Kershaw explained. “Just like, ‘Hey, I look at him originally, but when I come set, I don’t really see the runner, so you’ve got to yell if they start going.’
“He was yelling at me, ‘Step off! Step off! Step off!’ So instinctually I just kind of did it. That was a big out for us.”
The play not only prevented the Rays from scoring the tying run, but Muncy then led off the fifth with a home run that helped keep momentum on the Dodgers’ side in their win.
Best Dodgers moments of 2020 postseason
No. 10: 11-run first inning in Game 3 of NLCS
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