Coming off a heartbreaking playoff exit against the Washington Nationals, the Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2020 season more motivated than ever to end the franchise’s World Series drought.
The club cruised to an MLB-best 43 wins during the regular season en route to an eighth consecutive National League West title. Getting another chance at the postseason, L.A. made quick work of the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres in the first two rounds.
The Dodgers then fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the NL Championship Series to defeat the Atlanta Braves and advance to the World Series a third time in the past four seasons.
After previously falling short to the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox, the Dodgers were determined to not have history repeat itself in their matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. They prevailed in six games and captured their seventh World Series title in franchise history.
Austin Barnes felt that the Dodgers’ biggest motivation in winning this year’s World Series was not letting down the fanbase, via SportsNet LA:
“I know how important the Dodgers are to Southern California and Riverside. People love the Dodgers, man. It’s their team. We got close in years past and we just couldn’t bring it home. I felt like we weren’t going to let that happen again. There was a little different intensity, a little different fight in us. We were not going to lose this series. We can’t go to three World Series and not bring one of them home. I think it showed with everybody’s ABs and focus. To bring it home was awesome.”
The Dodgers boast one of the most passionate fanbases in all of baseball, and they wanted nothing more than to see their favorite team deliver a championship this season — especially when considering the recent years of postseason heartbreak.
The club evidently had this in the back of their mind and used it to their advantage against the Rays. A few thousand Dodgers fans were able to witness the victory in person at Globe Life Field, while others experienced it at a Dodger Stadium watch party.
Muncy: Dodgers’ ‘ultimate goal’ is winning World Series at Dodger Stadium
After delivering a championship this year, the Dodgers are now preparing to defend their title next season. Max Muncy revealed that the club’s biggest goal is winning one in front of the hometown fans at Dodger Stadium.
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