The Toronto Blue Jays have successfully tied the best-of-seven World Series at 2-2, following a convincing 6-2 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four. This win, highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s early two-run homer, showcased the resilience of the only Canadian team in Major League Baseball as they staged a comeback at Dodger Stadium. With this victory, the series is set to return to Toronto for a crucial sixth game, and potentially a decisive seventh game.
After an exhausting 18-inning game on Monday that drained both teams' bullpens, the Dodgers and Blue Jays were eager for extended outings from their starting pitchers to give their relief pitchers a much-needed break. All eyes were on the Dodgers' superstar Shohei Ohtani, who was slated to excel as both the starting pitcher and leadoff hitter. Ohtani, 31, is a remarkable two-way player known for his elite performance in both pitching and hitting. However, after reaching base on all nine of his plate appearances in game three, he faced a challenging outing in game four, finishing hitless and leaving the mound in the seventh inning with a 2-1 deficit.
Meanwhile, Shane Bieber, Toronto's less celebrated starter hailing from California, put forth an impressive performance, striking out Ohtani twice and pitching into the sixth inning while allowing just one run. The Dodgers initially took the lead in the second inning when Enrique Hernandez delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Max Muncy.
Despite the absence of George Springer, who suffered a muscle injury during game three, Guerrero stepped up to the plate and hit a two-run homer off Ohtani, shifting the score to 2-1 in favor of the Blue Jays. Following Ohtani's exit, Toronto's offense surged as Andres Gimenez, Ty France, Bo Bichette, and Addison Barger all contributed runs, expanding the lead to 6-1 before the seventh-inning stretch.
The Dodgers attempted a late rally in the bottom of the ninth when Teoscar Hernandez walked, and Muncy doubled, leading to a run scored by Tommy Edman after grounding out. However, the Blue Jays maintained their composure and closed out the game without further incident.
The thrilling World Series continues with game five, scheduled for Wednesday evening at Dodger Stadium. As both teams look to seize the momentum, fans can expect another exciting matchup in this closely contested series.
