One more night

Gerrit Cole to pitch Game 5: Yankees can't lose again. Dodgers go for the win.

Before we get to the Yankees' offensive explosion, Anthony Volpe's incredible play, the dominance of the Yankees' bullpen, and Freddie Freeman's heroics in the Fall Classic, let's take a look at the decisions the Dodgers made in Game 4.

As manager Dave Roberts had announced, Game 4 would be a bullpen game for the Dodgers. But what Roberts didn't announce, obviously, was how he would handle different game situations. In other words, Roberts never said he wouldn't use his top relievers, and that's precisely what he did.

Let's quickly go back to a couple of moments that marked Game 4 before the Yankees ended up bombarding the Dodgers' bullpen with a five-run rally during the bottom of the eighth inning to decide the 11-4 Game 4 victory and secure one more day of life. This was the first time the team that allowed the first run won a World Series game since the Houston Astros' Game 6 win in 2022.

The Yankees are the first team to force a Game 5 when down 3-0 in a World Series since the Reds in 1970 against the Orioles. Here's how it all started:

At 8:15 p.m. in the Bronx, Freddie Freeman hit his fourth home run of this World Series to give the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead. Freeman hit the fourth pitch of the inning, a backdoor slider on a 1-2 count. It was the only pitch Yankees starter Luis Gil threw in the strike zone against Freeman. Then, you know, Yankees fans were a little upset. As Freeman ran the bases, greeted by Mookie Betts in the dugout, the MVP chants from Dodgers fans rang out at Yankee Stadium.

You've probably seen this sign, from a Yankees fan asking Freeman to stop. Alexis, one of our most loyal readers, was kind enough to send me the photo minutes after Freeman became the first batter with a home run in at least six consecutive World Series games.

With the home run, Freddie Freeman also became the first batter with at least 10 RBIs in the first four World Series games.