Advertisement

Column: No big deal. Dodgers punt Game 4 but they’re still in control against?Yankees

Dodgers pitcher Brent Honeywell walks to the dugout during a loss to the Yankees in the World Series.
Dodgers pitcher Brent Honeywell walks to the dugout after giving up five runs in the eighth inning of an 11-4 loss to the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Share via

The New York Yankees have awakened.

A little late.

The Yankees mauled and mashed and manhandled the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, staving off a sweep with an 11-4 victory.

Not much to see here.

On a night when two Yankees fans literally tore a foul ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove, the Yankees were desperate.

On a night when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts used Ben Casparius to start and Landon Knack to cover four innings and Brent Honeywell to finish, the Dodgers were cautious.

“At the end of the day, we’re still in a pretty good spot, and we feel good,” Roberts said.

Advertisement

On a night when Anthony Volpe set the tone by running into a hanging slider by Daniel Hudson in the third inning and depositing it into the left-field bleachers for a grand slam, the Yankees were inspired.

On a night when Freddie Freeman’s wildly celebrated two-run homer in the first inning didn’t come close to holding up, the Dodgers were mostly meh.

“We were very high, we were excited, those guys unfortunately answered back,” Roberts said. “It was a good ballgame until it wasn’t.”

From the moment Aaron Judge sent the raucous crowd into a game-long tizzy when he angrily reacted to being hit in the hand by a third-inning Hudson pitch, the Yankees attacked.

From the moment it was obvious that their mound was going to be filled with the back of their bullpen, the Dodgers mostly watched and waited.

Advertisement

“We’ve got no choice right now, like just play pitch by pitch,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Compete, leave it all out there. And we did that really well today.”

With limited bullpen options, the Dodgers were unable to close out the World Series and watched the Yankees rally for an 11-4 win in Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.

Oct. 29, 2024

This loss is no big Dodgers deal because they purposely didn’t leave it all out there. For the third time this postseason, comfortable with their lead and protecting their high-leverage relievers for later games, the Dodgers punted.

That’s right, the Dodgers punted.

It sounds crazy. It sounds risky. It sounds like the Dodgers are equating the fourth game of the World Series to a spring training tussle, but guess what? It works. Two punts helped them navigate to a four-games-to-two victory over the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series.

When you don’t have a decent fourth starting pitching option, you don’t have a choice but to run a bullpen game. And when you have a three-games-to-none series lead, it is understandable, even reasonable, to protect your best relievers if that bullpen game suddenly goes south.

Yankees catcher Austin Wells watches his solo home run off a pitch by Dodger Landon Knack during the World Series
Yankees catcher Austin Wells watches his solo home run off a pitch by Dodger Landon Knack during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankees Stadium Tuesday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Punting has worked for them before, and it will work here too. The Dodgers still are firmly in control.

Advertisement

“We knew it was a bullpen game,” Roberts said. “As far as outcomes, to have six guys in your ‘pen that are feeling good, rested, I feel good about that. And being up 3-1, yeah.”

Roberts was absolutely glowing about having relievers like Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda ready for Wednesday’s Game 5.

“I feel great, I feel great,” he said. “It’s about the guys that you have available. Some of those guys are — they’re all rested. So we have guys that can do up-down.”

It’s still all up for the Dodgers, who still lead the Series as Roberts referenced while the history of their previous lead hasn’t changed — no team has come back from a three-games-to-none deficit to win a World Series.

Also, while most teams crumble under the weight of three-to-none — the previous nine poor souls were swept — a different sort of history is also on the Dodgers’ side.

Advertisement

No team trailing three games to none has even forced a Game 6.

So this shebang lives to fight another day, Wednesday night here, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole against Dodgers ace Jack Flaherty. They’ve faced each other before in this Series, and it was basically a draw, and should be again.

Flaherty, the Dodgers’ late-season savior, held the Yankees to two runs in 5? innings in the opener while Cole held the Dodgers to one run in six innings.

The Dodgers and New York Yankees will play Major League Baseball’s starriest World Series in decades.

Oct. 26, 2024

But the Dodgers will have the advantage for two main reasons.

First, the Yankees’ best relievers will be working on no rest — they were all understandably used Tuesday by their flailing manager — while the Dodgers’ best relievers will be ready to roll.

Second, for all the Yankees’ bluster Tuesday — they pounded out nine hits with three home runs — their best slugger still isn’t slugging. Judge went one for three to give him two hits in 15 at-bats in the Series. And if he can’t rake, the Yankees can’t recover.

Looking back at the Dodgers’ path through the postseason before their victory over the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series.

Nov. 1, 2024

Said Flaherty: “I’m not worried about how it’s gone up to this point. I’m just worried about trying to get one more.”

Countered Cole: “Hey, we’re still in the World Series. Hey, we’re in the Bronx. We’ve still got a shot at this thing.”

Advertisement

No, they don’t. History will be made one day, but it won’t be here.

The Dodgers played it smartly, if weirdly, on a night when the Yankees’ valiant effort could be summed up in two words.

So what.

Advertisement
seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
mfhoudan.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
jerusalemdispatch.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
worldhealthstory.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
techguroh.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com