Dodgers tie series despite Jansen being human

Game four of the World Series was a nailbiter. It had all the drama you’d expect the Fall Classic to have. It was only decided in the ninth inning when the bullpen of the Astros collapsed and gave up five runs as the Astros fell to the Dodgers 6-2.

Throughout the game the Astros were more effective than the Dodgers. Until that ninth inning when the score was tied at one, the Astros needed one hit, a solo homerun by George Springer to left field. As the Dodgers tied the game at one, they needed four hits to do so. On the other hand one can say the Astros were kept in check better by Alex Wood, who pitched 5.2 innings and only gave up that solo shot to Springer, walked two and struck out three and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

A play that is worth mentioning was the out at home plate when Austin Barnes dashed home from third base when Chris Taylor hit towards third baseman Alex Bregman. Bregman fired the ball towards Brian McCann who tagged out Barnes at home plate easily. It prevented the Dodgers to tie the game at that point.

As written above, the Astros bullpen collapsed in the ninth inning. Manager A.J. Hinch brought closer Ken Giles to the mound but that did not pan out well at all. Giles started the inning with giving up a single to Corey Seager, then walked Justin Turner and gave up a double to Cody Bellinger that drove in Seager for the go-ahead run. Giles was pulled and replaced by Joe Musgrove, but he couldn’t stop the Dodgers’ offense either. After Musgrove struck out Yasiel Puig, he walked Logan Forsythe intentionally before Austin Barnes hit a sac fly that drove in pinch runner Charlie Culberson. The decisive blow was dealt by Joc Pederson, who hit a three-run homerun to right center field to put the Dodgers in the drivers seat.

Manager Dave Roberts sent Kenley Jansen to the mound again in a no-save situation. After two quick outs, Jansen showed he remains human, even though he was awarded the Trevor Hoffman award before the game. Jansen gave up a solo shot to Alex Bregman before retiring Jose Altuve to secure the win.

With this win, the Dodgers secured a sixth game in Dodger Stadium where they can finish the job in front of their home crowd.