MLB World Series Game 4: Toronto Blue Jays beat LA Dodgers 6-2 to level at 2-2
The Toronto Blue Jays improved to a best-of-seven World Series with a 2-2 score following a blowout 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s first two-run homer and multiple runs in the seventh inning helped Major League Baseball’s only Canadian team come from behind at Dodger Stadium.
This also allows the series to return to Toronto for a sixth and potentially seventh game.
After Monday’s 18-inning epic sapped the energy of both teams, the Dodgers and Blue Jays were preparing to give their starting pitchers extended periods of time to give their relief corps some respite.
All eyes were on Dodgers’ Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, as this was the game in which he was scheduled to serve as the starting pitcher and leadoff hitter.
Ohtani, 31, is an extremely rare “two-way” player who operates at an elite level as both a pitcher and hitter.
But he did not bat after reaching base in all nine plate appearances in the third game, and in the seventh inning he left the pitcher’s mound to trail 2-1, putting two men on base – both of whom would score – with no outs.
Toronto’s lesser-known starter, Shane Bieber, who was born in California, showed the home team no favors, striking out twice to Ohtani and giving up just one run, heading into the sixth inning.
The Dodgers took 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 during the third game, but Guerrero stepped up and blasted Ohtani over left-center field to make it 2-1.
After Ohtani was removed from the game, Andres Gimenez, Ty France, Bo Bichette and Addison Barger went on a run to give the Blue Jays 6-1 breathing room before the seventh inning stretch.
The Dodgers 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 win with little alarm.
The series continues with game five on Wednesday evening, also at Dodger Stadium.
