The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t just bounce back — they roared back. On October 28, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the Blue Jays crushed the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 of the World Series, erasing the memory of an 18-inning, 6-hour, 39-minute marathon loss just hours earlier. The win evened the best-of-seven series at 2-2, setting up a dramatic shift in momentum — and geography. With star outfielder George Springer sidelined, the Blue Jays didn’t just survive. They thrived.
Guerrero Jr. and the Moment That Changed Everything
It started with a swing. In the third inning, with two runners on and two outs, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 26-year-old Dominican-Canadian slugger, launched a 94-mph cutter from Shohei Ohtani into the right-field pavilion. His seventh home run of the 2025 postseason didn’t just tie the game — it shattered the Dodgers’ rhythm. Ohtani, the 30-year-old two-way phenom and 2023 AL MVP, had been untouchable through six innings in Game 3. But on this night, the weight of back-to-back starts — and the emotional toll of that marathon loss — showed."That home run? It wasn’t just a hit," said John Schneider, the Blue Jays’ 42-year-old manager, after the game. "It was a statement. We knew they were tired. We knew they were emotionally spent. We just had to be ready when the door cracked open."
The Seventh Inning: A Perfect Storm
The real damage came in the seventh. With Ohtani still on the mound, Dalton Varsho, the 28-year-old Canadian outfielder batting ninth, led off with a sharp single. Then came Ernie Clement, the 27-year-old American second baseman, who drove a ball off the left-field wall — a double that sent Ohtani to the dugout in visible frustration. He’d thrown 104 pitches. His fastball had lost half a mile per hour.Enter Andrés Jiménez, the 25-year-old Venezuelan shortstop. On the eighth pitch of his at-bat — a 3-2 count — he slapped a line drive into center field. The run scored. The crowd fell silent. Then Bo Bichette, the 26-year-old American shortstop, followed with a RBI single of his own. Four runs. One inning. Ohtani’s line: 6 IP, 4 ER, 6 K. The Dodgers’ lead? Gone.
Bieber’s Command, Bullpen’s Cold Steel
While the offense exploded, Shane Bieber was working quietly. The 30-year-old 2020 AL Cy Young winner tossed 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out six — including Ohtani twice. His slider was filthy. His changeup, deceptive. He didn’t need to overpower. He just needed to outthink.The bullpen — Jeremy Fluhart, Jordan Hardy, Jordan Romano, and Kevin Gausman — combined for 3.2 scoreless innings. No walks. No hits after the seventh. Just ice in their veins.
The Dodger Side: When Strategy Backfires
Manager Dave Roberts faced backlash for leaving Ohtani in too long. The right-hander had thrown 104 pitches by the sixth. The seventh inning was a cascade of contact — and poor defense. A dropped foul ball by Mookie Betts, a miscommunication in the infield — the Dodgers looked like a team running on fumes."We thought he had enough," Roberts said postgame. "But the truth? We didn’t have enough answers. That inning… it just got away from us."
A Series Transformed
The Blue Jays’ path here was anything but easy. They swept the New York Yankees in the ALDS, then outlasted the Seattle Mariners in seven grueling games to reach the World Series. The Dodgers, meanwhile, had crushed the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves to get here.Now, the series shifts to a best-of-three. Game 5 is set for October 29, 2025, at Dodger Stadium — Hyun-jin Ryu vs. Clayton Kershaw, a dream matchup of veteran lefties. If needed, Games 6 and 7 return to the Rogers Centre in Toronto — where, as Sportsnet noted, "no matter what happens tomorrow night, this series is going back to the Rogers Centre. The 2025 MLB season will end at the Rogers Centre in Toronto."
For the Blue Jays — owners of only two World Series titles, both in 1992 and 1993 — this is more than a comeback. It’s a reckoning. A chance to end a 32-year drought. For the Dodgers, it’s a haunting echo of 2020, when they won it all — and a reminder that even the most dominant teams can be toppled by grit, timing, and one unforgettable seventh inning.
What’s Next? The Stage Is Set
Game 5 isn’t just another game. It’s a pivot point. If the Dodgers win, they’re one win away from their second title in five years. If the Blue Jays win? They’ll take a 3-2 series lead back to Toronto with the entire country watching.The attendance? 54,223. The start time? 8:08 PM PT. The end? 11:15 PM PT. And the feeling? Like history is being written — one pitch, one swing, one breath at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Blue Jays win without George Springer?
Despite missing their star outfielder George Springer, the Blue Jays’ lineup depth carried them. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Dalton Varsho, Ernie Clement, and Bo Bichette all delivered key hits in Game 4, with the team’s ninth batter (Varsho) leading off the decisive seventh inning. Manager John Schneider shifted the batting order, moving Guerrero Jr. to third and trusting role players — and it paid off with four runs in one frame.
Why was Shohei Ohtani left in so long during the seventh inning?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cited Ohtani’s previous success in high-leverage situations and the lack of reliable bullpen options after Game 3’s marathon. But Ohtani had thrown 104 pitches by the seventh, and his velocity had dropped nearly 3 mph. The decision backfired as Toronto’s hitters exploited fatigue, leading to four runs and Ohtani’s exit — a move that drew heavy criticism from analysts and fans alike.
What makes this comeback historically significant?
The Blue Jays became the first team since the 2016 World Series to win a World Series game immediately after losing an 18-inning contest. Only five teams in MLB history have won a game after a game lasting over 6 hours. The emotional and physical toll of that marathon — ending at 2:47 AM PT — made this victory even more remarkable, especially without their best player.
Who is pitching in Game 5, and why does it matter?
Game 5 features Hyun-jin Ryu for the Blue Jays against Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers — a matchup of two veteran lefties with deep World Series experience. Ryu, 37, has been steady in the postseason; Kershaw, 36, is seeking his first ring since 2020. This isn’t just about innings — it’s about legacy. The winner likely controls the series heading into Toronto.
Why is the series ending at Rogers Centre regardless of the outcome?
MLB’s scheduling protocol for the 2025 World Series mandates that if the series goes to Game 7, it must be played at the home of the team with home-field advantage — the Blue Jays, due to their better regular-season record. But even if the Dodgers win in six, Game 6 is scheduled for Rogers Centre, meaning the final game of the 2025 MLB season will be held in Toronto, regardless of who wins.
What’s at stake for the Blue Jays franchise?
The Blue Jays haven’t won a World Series since 1993 — a 32-year drought, the longest active among teams that have won it before. A victory would cement their place as a modern powerhouse and validate years of rebuilding under Rogers Communications. For a city that hasn’t seen a championship team since the Raptors in 2019, this is more than baseball — it’s cultural redemption.
Written by Kieran Blackthorne
Hello, I'm Kieran Blackthorne, a gaming enthusiast and expert. I have an extensive knowledge of various games, ranging from popular mainstream titles to hidden indie gems. As a passionate writer, I enjoy sharing my insights, reviews, and in-depth analysis of the gaming world through articles and blogs. I'm always on the lookout for the next big thing, whether it's a groundbreaking game or an innovative piece of gaming technology. My ultimate goal is to help fellow gamers discover and appreciate the incredible experiences that the gaming world has to offer.
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