Text messages make the Series a family affair

During last night's Game One of the World Series, I watched baseball while Ann sat next to me and watched some television on her laptop, headphones attached. 

But we were not alone. My brother and my three nephews in Utah were right there with me as we group texted throughout the game. Oh, how baseball brings families together.

Every time there was a big play in the game, my phone would ding with a comment from Michael, Jesse, Chris, or John. Granted, some of the messages veered off the topic of baseball, but watching with my extended family made the experience that much richer.

Now, to the game.

Clayton Kershaw was vintage Kershaw. Two hits over six innings, eight strikeouts, and 19 swings and misses. He controlled the game with a mix of sliders, curves, and fastball that clocked in at 93 mph. He is not going quietly into the night.

Going into last night's game, the question was this: What would prevail, LA's stout batting order, or Tampa Bay's stellar pitching? Well, for Game One the answer was clearly LA's bats, powering the Dodgers to an 8-3 win and drawing first blood in the Series.

Cody Bellinger followed his Game Seven game-winning dinger in the NLCS with a two-run blast in the fourth, Mookie Betts added a solo shot in the sixth, and Justin Turner, Max Muncy, Will Smith, and Chris Taylor all contributed clutch RBI.

The Dodgers showcased power and the ability to play small ball, with Betts stealing two bases and joining Cory Seager in a double steal. 

Tampa Bay starter Tyler Glasnow's hard cheese was impressive, but his lack of control (six walks) was his downfall. The Dodgers are grinders. They make pitchers work and do not often offer on pitches out of the strike zone. Seager had a quiet night, walking three times, but that kept the pressure on the Rays.

Tampa Bay's bullpen, advertised as a strength, surrendered two runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. LA's Dylan Floro was tagged for two runs on two hits but Victor Gonzalez, Pedro Baez, and Joe Kelly turned in three innings of shutout ball to close the ledger. Gonzalez turned a fantastic double play on a line drive that quelled a Tampa Bay rally in the seventh.

On to Game Two.