LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Shohei Ohtani’s long-awaited World Series pitching debut ended in disappointment on Tuesday as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 to level the Fall Classic at two games apiece, one night after their record-tying marathon in Game Three.
A day after reaching base nine times in an 18-inning epic that tied the longest World Series game ever, Ohtani lasted six innings on the mound, striking out six and allowing six hits, though he gave up the game’s only home run.
He was charged with four earned runs after exiting in the top of the seventh with two runners aboard.
The Dodgers struck first in the second inning on a Kike Hernandez sacrifice fly, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr put Toronto ahead for good with a two-run homer in the third, the first home run Ohtani had surrendered since August and the first baseman’s seventh home run this postseason.
The Blue Jays then broke the game open with a four-run seventh, as the Dodgers showed the strain of back-to-back late nights and a thin bullpen. Andres Gimenez, Bo Bichette and Addison Barger all drove in runs to silence the Dodger Stadium crowd.
Ohtani said he felt physically fine despite the quick turnaround after Monday’s 18-inning marathon.
“I slept at 2 a.m. and felt pretty good about being able to have quality sleep,” the Japanese told reporters. “My goal was to go seven innings tonight, and it was regrettable that I wasn’t able to finish that inning.”
The two-way star called the experience “productive,” even in defeat.
“Although we did lose the game, I thought I had a productive experience being able to pitch in this situation,” he said.
“Looking at guys like Will Smith, who caught every single inning out of that 18-inning game, was really impressive. We just have to turn the page and focus on the next game.”
BIEBER, BULLPEN HOLD STRONG
Toronto’s Shane Bieber earned the win with 5-1/3 innings of one-run ball, limiting Los Angeles to four hits while striking out three and walking four, before a worn Blue Jays bullpen combined for nearly four shutout frames to close out the victory.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani’s effort but said the Blue Jays “grinded out at-bats” and capitalized when it mattered.
“He gave us a good effort, he really did,” Roberts said. “You’ve got to give credit to Bieber for making pitches and limiting traffic. We just didn’t have an answer in that seventh inning.”
Roberts admitted the Dodgers’ offense has yet to find a rhythm this postseason.
“It sort of draws dead at certain parts of the lineup,” he said. “Guys are competing, but we haven’t found our rhythm. I think it might look a little bit different tomorrow.”
The teams meet again Wednesday, with the Dodgers set to start Blake Snell while Trey Yesavage takes the mound for the Blue Jays in Game Five.
Among the sellout crowd for Tuesday’s game were LeBron James and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
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