Blue Jays say they didn't lose World Sequence. However comeback not trying good vs Dodgers. – USA At the moment

USA TODAY Sports activities has stay protection ofDodgers vs. Blue Jays in World Sequence Sport 4.
LOS ANGELES — As they trudged off the Dodger Stadium grass within the wee minutes of Oct. 28, the Toronto Blue Jays skilled emotions solely a treasured few ballplayers throughout a century of this sport have confronted: Dropping an 18-inning World Sequence sport.
 Hey, when it’s first group to 4 wins a world championship, each loss is dear. And the invoice for this one might be exorbitant in Video games 4 and 5.
Freddie Freeman’s house run main off the underside of the 18^th inning didn’t simply elevate the Dodgers to a 6-5 victory and a 2-1 World Sequence benefit. It additionally exacerbated the various issues Toronto will face each getting again on this Sequence and, towards the chances, reclaiming the higher hand.
Not that the Blue Jays are specializing in that. Supervisor John Schneider is the grasp of cheerfully refusing to think about what simply occurred would possibly impression what is going to occur.
“The Dodgers did not win the World Sequence at this time. They gained a sport,” says Schneider in his postgame dissection, lengthy after the clock struck midnight on the West Coast.
“These guys are going to be able to go tomorrow. I like the best way we performed. I like the best way we fought.”
Schneider is rightfully pleased with his dudes however it’s most likely not a foul concept to peek below the hood and ponder the Jays’ actuality.
They’ve a Shohei Ohtani problem: The sport’s best participant didn’t simply attain base a document 9 instances in as many plate appearances, drop two house runs and two doubles on Toronto and nonetheless go to mattress dreaming of dominating them on the mound.
He additionally illustrated the issues of pitching round him. Positive, it took 18 innings, however flip over that Dodger lineup sufficient, and finally a former MVP will come round to beat you when you insist Ohtani doesn’t.
“Once more, man, the man’s a terrific participant,” says Schneider. “There’s sure instances the place I really feel such as you really feel higher about another person beating you. If that another person is Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman, it nonetheless stings.
“It isn’t the best factor on the earth to only stroll him and face Mookie and Freddie.”
Says Toronto third baseman Ernie Clement: “He’s one of the best participant to ever play this sport. Reaching base 9 instances – I believe I used to be 1-for08, so want I might take a few these from him. It’s superb.
“You possibly can’t let him beat you. We deliberately walked him, just about, 4 instances, at the least. It’s a no brainer.”
They’ve a pitching downside: Sport 4 starter Shane Bieber has averaged simply 4 ⅓ innings in his three playoff begins this season, all towards lineups not almost as potent because the Dodgers’. Now, think about the state of the aid corps – all of whom pitched in Sport 3 – that may align behind him.
Lengthy man Eric Lauer pitched a gallant 4 ⅔ innings, protecting Toronto alive between innings 12 via 16, requiring 68 pitches. Nearer Jeff Hoffman pitched two innings, burning 33 throws.
5 different relievers threw between 19 and 29 pitches, and when you can say the Dodgers additionally needed to cowl 18 innings, can even have pitchers down due to it, additionally they have one thing Toronto doesn’t:
Shohei Ohtani, beginning Sport 4.
No surprise the Blue Jays will, much more than traditional, place “unavailable” on its banned checklist of phrases this week.
“Truthfully, I believe virtually everyone’s going to be able to go tomorrow,” says Lauer, who is perhaps whisked away by pitcher’s protecting companies, if such an entity exists, ought to he throw a pitch in Sport 4.
“It’s the World Sequence: No one needs to overlook an inning, nobody needs to be down. Do no matter you’ll be able to to get your self prepared tomorrow and able to go.”
They usually have a well being downside: DH and leadoff man George Springer, whose physique was already compromised in a number of fashions, left the sport after wrenching his left aspect on a swing within the seventh inning. He underwent an MRI.
Second baseman Bo Bichette has made important contributions on this Sequence since coming back from a 48-day absence on account of a knee ligament pressure. But he’s additionally removed from 100% and is changed both by a pinch-runner or on protection late in video games.
Springer’s exit and Bichette’s limitations burned the Blue Jays in Sport 3, with huge holes within the lineup creating the impression they could by no means rating once more.
And for the final 11 innings of Sport 3, they didn’t.
“We owe them some runs tomorrow, for positive. We’ll get on that,” says Clement.
Postseason pitching is already a special, uncaged animal, and the World Sequence is its most excessive instance, since there actually aren’t any tomorrows. Toronto was ready, mentally, to regulate to no matter position would possibly come earlier than its pitchers.
Because the 17^th and 18^th innings unfolded, there have been loopy sights to behold within the Dodgers’ and Blue Jays’ bullpens: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ Sport 2 winner who threw a whole sport two days earlier than, on the point of are available in if essential.
And Shane Bieber, Toronto’s Sport 4 starter, seemingly getting tapped to pitch the 19^th inning, if it obtained that far.
It didn’t. And now, Toronto’s pitching downside just isn’t psychological changes to playoff ball however quite a bodily one, pondering limitations and efficacy because it goals to win three of the following 4 video games.
“That is playoff baseball. You noticed who was preparing of their bullpen. And who was preparing in ours,” says Blue Jays Sport 2 starter Kevin Gausman. “That simply exhibits you this time of 12 months is slightly completely different. And enjoying that lengthy of a sport is slightly completely different.
“Throw all of your normalities out the window relating to this time of 12 months.”
Oh, Sport 3 was loads irregular. Keep tuned for the fallout.

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