Arozarena sets postseason homer record

Randy Arozarena’s phenomenal postseason run already was historic. Now, again, he stands alone in the record books.

The Rays’ No. 19 prospect homered in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the World Series, setting a Major League record with nine big flies this postseason and providing one of several exclamation points as the Rays beat the Dodgers, 8-7, in one of the most exciting games in baseball history.

Arozarena got into a rhythm early, singling to center field in his first at-bat against left-hander Julio Urias. He was caught stealing second to end the opening frame but didn't let that get between him and history.

With Tampa Bay trailing, 2-0, Arozarena stepped into the box to lead off the fourth, looking to provide a spark to what had been a quiet offense. He wasted no time doing so, turning on Urias' first pitch and depositing it over the right field fence at Texas' Globe Life Field to halve the deficit and again etch his name into baseball lore.

The record for postseason homers now belongs solely to #RaysUp No. 1⃣9⃣ prospect Randy Arozarena.pic.twitter.com/2VftoHzIUP

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) October 25, 2020

Arozarena broke the previous record of eight postseason blasts he shared with Barry Bonds, Nelson Cruz, Carlos Beltran and the Dodgers' Corey Seager, who slugged a solo shot in the third inning.

"It's a great honor in my life to be able to have that record for nine home runs in a single postseason," Arozarena told MLB Network through a translator after the game. "I give thanks to God for that. But what's more important right now is that my team wins this game and that we were able to win this incredible game here in the World Series."

After the homer, Arozarena was seen holding a sign in the dugout that included a heartfelt message for his daughters, Luna and Lia.

"Luna and Lia, I love you so much," Arozarena said. "I have a role here as a baseball player, but my most important role is as a father to you. I love you both so much."

Randy Arozarena is a proud father, in addition to being a prolific home run hitter. Luna and Lia are the names of his daughters, as seen on this screenshot from the ⁦@MLBONFOX⁩ broadcast. ⁦@corte4⁩ ⁦@Cut4⁩ ⁦@RaysBaseball⁩ pic.twitter.com/EBgFhIGY2n

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 25, 2020

It was Arozarena’s second homer of the World Series after he went deep on Friday night in a 6-2 loss in Game 3. Most of his damage came in the American League Championship Series however, as he clubbed four long balls against the Astros including a two-run shot in Game 7. He also homered three times in the AL Division Series, helping the Rays to a five-game triumph over the Yankees.

"We're talking about Randy offensively for a really good reason because he's done so much damage in the postseason," Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters. "But we've seen him show patience. He's walked a couple of times in this series. He's got a great idea of what pitchers are trying to do to him and once he establishes that, he covers a pitch, it's on to the next one: 'Now, I've got to make sure that I can cover the next one or choose not to swing at it.' Randy's not getting himself out. You're gonna have to get him out in the zone. There have been some really good pitches that he's laid off of or fouled off to extend the at-bat."

Saturday's blast also was Arozarena’s 25th hit of the postseason, leaving him one shy of the record set by Pablo Sandoval in 2014. He tied it in his next at-bat when he lined a single to center field leading off the bottom of the sixth against reliever Blake Treinen.

The pair of record book entries were not Arozarena's only contributions, nor were they his most impactful. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Rays trailing by a run, he drew a seven-pitch walk against closer Kenley Jansen to move Kevin Kiermaier into scoring position and bring Brett Phillips to the plate. When Phillips roped a single to right-center, Arozarena hustled his way around third as Kiermaier scored the tying run.

"I knew as soon as the ball was hit I had to be ready to score the run to win the game," Arozarena said.

What happened next looked more like a comedy routine than the Fall Classic. After first baseman Max Muncy received the cutoff throw from Chris Taylor, he turned and fired home. Arozarena stumbled and fell between third and the plate. He popped up and briefly turned back before catcher Will Smith lost control of the ball, allowing the 25-year-old Cuban to pivot and slide in safely as he pounded the plate with a smile.

"It was one of the great games I've ever played in in my entire life," Arozarena said. "I have to give credit, and it was an amazing moment to be part of to be able to play in that game."

"Randy's not used to having to run like that. Normally, he's just trotting," Cash said. "So it threw him off, getting tripped up between third and home."

Arozarena’s nine postseason blasts are even more impressive, considering he had only eight in his entire big league career. All but one came in a Rays uniform, as he went deep once with the Cardinals, who dealt him to Tampa Bay in January. After battling the coronavirus, he joined the Rays on Aug. 30 and belted seven homers in 23 games.

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