MLB World Series Game 4: Toronto Blue Jays beat LA Dodgers 6-2 to level at 2-2
The Toronto Blue Jays evened the best-of-seven World Series at 2-2 after a dominating 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s leadoff two-run homer and a glut of runs in the seventh inning helped Major League Baseball’s only Canadian team come from behind at Dodger Stadium.
It also guarantees that the series will return to Toronto for a sixth game, and potentially a decisive seventh.
After Monday’s epic 18 innings drained the energy from both teams’ relievers, the Dodgers and Blue Jays were counting on long outings from their starting pitchers to give their relief corps some breathing room.
All eyes were on Dodgers Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani as this was the game where he was scheduled to double as starting pitcher and leadoff hitter.
Ohtani, 31, is an exceptionally rare “two-way” player, playing at the elite level as both a pitcher and hitter.
But after reaching base in all nine plate appearances in Game 3, he went hitless with the bat and left the pitcher’s mound in the seventh inning with the score 2-1 and having put two men on base – both of whom would score – with no outs.
Toronto’s lesser-known starter, California-born Shane Bieber, showed the hosts no favors, striking out Ohtani twice and pitching in the sixth inning while allowing just one run.
The Dodgers had taken the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Enrique Hernandez’s sacrifice fly scored Max Muncy.
Toronto’s offense was missing George Springer, who suffered a muscle injury in Game 3, but Guerrero stepped in and threw Ohtani over left center field to make it 2-1.
After Ohtani was knocked out, Andres Gimenez, Ty France, Bo Bichette and Addison Barger all drove in runs to give the Blue Jays some breathing room at 6-1 heading into the seventh inning.
The Dodgers briefly threatened a rally in the bottom of the ninth as Teoscar Hernandez walked, Muncy doubled and Tommy Edman grounded out to score Hernandez, but Toronto closed out the victory with little concern.
The series continues with Game 5, still at Dodger Stadium, on Wednesday evening.
