Saturday’s Game 4 of the World Series saw a ton of back-and-forth action, but the conclusion was particularly remarkable. The Los Angeles Dodgers led 7-6 going into the bottom of the ninth, and they were one out away from a victory and a 3-1 series lead with just a runner on first (Kevin Kiermaier, who singled with one out). But then things got weird.
Randy Arozarena hung in there against Kenley Jansen and worked a full-count walk, and that led to Brett Phillips coming to the plate. Phillips wasn’t even on the Rays’ roster for the American League Championship Series, and had entered this game as a pinch-runner in the eighth. But he got his first career postseason hit with a single to right field on a 1-2 count.
Dodgers’ center fielder Chris Taylor bobbled that ball, and that let Kiermaier score. Taylor recovered and threw to cutoff man Max Muncy, who threw home in plenty of time to get Arozarena, who had fallen down after rounding third. But catcher Will Smith bobbled the ball, and Arozarena scored the winning run:
RAYS WIN IN CHAOTIC WALK-OFF FASHION! pic.twitter.com/bvTJ0CdMoZ
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 25, 2020
Here are several calls of that:
ALL THE CALLS:
1. Rays Radio
2. Rays Spanish radio
3. ESPN radio
4. Fox Deportes
5. MLB International
6. Russian TV
7. Dodgers radio pic.twitter.com/jHzn5kGu3v— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 25, 2020
And here’s a look at Arozarena falling down:
i’m still tryna comprehend this pic.twitter.com/g3qt89ES4f
— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) October 25, 2020
That’s an insane finish, but it’s a fitting one for a back-and-forth game like this. And it means that the World Series is now tied at two games apiece heading into Sunday’s Game 5 (8:08 p.m. Eastern, Fox).
[Close-up of Arozarena via Mike Taddow on Twitter, photo from Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports]
About Andrew Bucholtz
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.