After the draining marathon of Game 3, the Dodgers were poised to take full control of the series in Game 4. But before first pitch on Tuesday night, the Blue Jays were calm in the clubhouse, playing video games and treating a near must-win World Series game like it was just another mid-summer matchup.
Then they went out and won the thing.
The Blue Jays tied the series with their usual brand of relentless, contact-oriented offense and an ability to get just what they needed from their pitching staff. Here is Ken Rosenthal on the Blue Jays’ win:
It’s tempting to call Toronto’s 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the Series on Tuesday night the most Jays thing ever, except these guys basically just viewed it as Game No. 177, and wore their baseball caps as blinders.
Great teams in all sports take pride in their resiliency. The Jays, however, seem to relish their ability to perform with their heads in a figurative vise. And in Game 4, that vise could not have been squeezed any tighter.
Not that the Jays showed it.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base three times, including a go-ahead home run. Shane Bieber pitched into the sixth inning. Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger and Ernie Clement had two hits apiece. The tired bullpen pitched out of a jam and had enough to get through the final 3 1/3 innings. Just a typical Blue Jays victory, right when they desperately needed it.
