Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has been pulled late in Game 6 of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) World Series after testing positive for COVID-19 — but has still celebrated his side’s victory over the Tampa Bay Rays with teammates.
Key points:
- Justin Turner celebrated with Dodgers teammates following their victory over the Tampa Bay Rays
- Major League Baseball learned of Turner’s positive test result during the game
- The Dodgers won their first World Series championship in 32 years
The MLB learned of the positive test during the game — which the Dodgers won 3-1 to clinch their first World Series victory in 32 years — in Arlington, Texas, and instructed the Dodgers to remove Turner from the contest.
Turner had started the game before being replaced at the start of the eighth inning.
He was not initially on the field as the Dodgers celebrated their win but returned about an hour after the game.
He was seen hugging long-time teammate Clayton Kershaw and sitting in the front row for a team photo next to manager Dave Roberts with his mask pulled down under his beard.
Turner later took to Twitter to thank fans who expressed concern for his condition.
“I feel great, no symptoms at all,” Turner wrote.
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“Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can’t believe I couldn’t be out there to celebrate with my guys!”
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Turner’s positive test moments after presenting the World Series trophy to the Dodgers.
“We’re concerned when any of our players test positive,” Manfred told US network Fox Sports.
The news about Turner’s positive test did not even reach his Dodgers teammates immediately.
“I found out in the top of the ninth,” Cody Bellinger said.
“[Edwin] Rios fielded a ground ball [at third base in the eighth]. I didn’t even know Rios was in the game … that was a shock to me.”
Turner’s return to the field to join the Dodgers’ post-game celebrations left some Twitter users confused.
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The Dodgers’ triumph in their third World Series appearance in four years closed out an MLB season in which the final three play-off rounds were held at four neutral-site locations in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The MLB insulated postseason teams in neutral-site bubbles after traveling them across the country during a shortened 60-game season.
Turner was the first player since the play-offs began to be flagged for COVID-19.
Dodgers break drought
Turner’s positive test overshadowed the Dodgers’ first World Series championship since 1988.
The Rays led 1-0 early in Game 6, but the Dodgers fought back to seal victory and claim an unassailable 4-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
It is the Dodgers’ seventh World Series victory.
Rays slugger Randy Arozarena gave his team the early lead when he sent a slider from Tony Gonsolin over the right field wall for a solo shot in the top of the first inning.
From there, Rays ace Blake Snell took over, mowing down Dodger hitters until he gave up a one out single to Austin Barnes in the bottom of the sixth.
Then, in a decision that will no doubt haunt the Rays, manager Kevin Cash emerged from the dugout and pulled Snell out of the game despite the lefty only giving up two hits and no walks while striking out nine.
It did not take long for Cash’s decision to backfire as Mookie Betts doubled down the third base line off reliever Nick Anderson in the next at-bat, moving Barnes down to third.
Barnes scored on a wild pitch by Anderson that moved Betts to third. The speedy Betts beat the throw home on a ground ball by Corey Seager to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
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Betts extended the Dodger lead to 3-1 with a solo blast off Pete Fairbanks the bottom of the eighth, leading to an eruption among the Dodgers fans in attendance at Globe Life Park, which permitted about 11,000 in the 48,000-capacity stadium.
The Dodgers, who employed a carousel of pitchers during the game, turned to lefty Julio Urias in the later innings and he was flawless getting out all seven batters he faced, including a strike-out of Willy Adames that ended the series.
AP/Reuters
