Arozarena sets postseason hit record

Randy Arozarena again separated himself in playoff lore.

The 19th-ranked Rays prospect set the postseason hits record with an RBI single in the third inning of a 4-2 loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The record-setting knock was his 27th of the playoffs, eclipsing the previous mark set by Pablo Sandoval during the Giants' run to the 2014 World Series championship. The 25-year-old finished 1-for-4, one night after taking sole possession of the Major League record for homers in a single postseason, .

All. He. Does. Is. Hit!

Randy Arozarena, the #Rays No. 19 prospect, now holds the MLB postseason record with 27 hits after this RBI single.pic.twitter.com/cEhhpMfDw8

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) October 26, 2020

After battling Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw for a nine-pitch at-bat in the opening frame that resulted in a double play grounder, Arozarena faced the southpaw again two innings later.

Following an RBI triple by Yandy Díaz that opened the scoring for the Rays, the Cuba native swung over the top of a pair of breaking balls to fall behind, 0-2. After taking a pitch in the dirt, Arozarena did not miss the fourth off-speed offering from Kershaw and punched a base hit through the left side of the infield to pull Tampa Bay within 3-2. He was caught stealing for the second straight night to end the frame.

"Pretty special. He wanted the ball, too. I noticed that,” Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters. "Congrats to Randy, and I believe Kershaw broke a record also with strikeouts. Pretty impressive career.”

In 20 games during the Rays' run, Arozarena is batting .370/.439/.808 with a record-setting nine dingers, a triple, three doubles, 18 runs scored and 13 RBIs. He's also worked eight walks and accumulated seven multi-hit performances. The 25-year-old is 6-for-18 in the World Series and has hit safely in the last four games.

The historic tater Arozarena clubbed on Saturday night broke the mark of eight that he shared with Barry Bonds, Nelson Cruz, Carlos Beltran and the Dodgers' Corey Seager. It also tied him with Evan Longoria atop the Rays' career postseason list. And on Sunday he caught B.J. Upton for the team record for career postseason hits.

Arozarena made his Major League debut for the Cardinals in August 2019 before being traded to Tampa Bay in January. After battling the coronavirus to start the season, he joined the Rays on Aug. 30 and belted seven homers in 23 regular-season games while batting .281/.382/.641 in 64 at-bats.

Over four seasons in the Minor Leagues, Arozarena totaled 38 homers in 331 games. Last year, he hit .344/.431/.571 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs in 92 games between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis.

With his prospect status still intact, Arozarena would be eligible for the 2021 American League Rookie of the Year award.