ব্লু জেস জুলাই মাসে শেন বিবারে একটি সুযোগ নিয়েছিল এবং অক্টোবরে তাদের শিরোপা পাওয়ার সম্ভাবনাকে বাঁচাতে সাহায্য করেছিল।
Los Angeles – The Blue Jays recently lost an 18-inning affair where the Dodgers were on the ropes multiple times. Their bullpen was taxed after going down 2-1 in the best-of-seven World Series. One of their best hitters was injured and out for Game 4, and another of their best hitters played hurt. If the starting pitcher faltered in Game 4, the series was likely over for them — luck seemed to be turning against the Dodgers after consecutive wins. The ball was given to Shane Bieber, and the veteran just shut down Shohei Ohtani. And now, with a 6-2 Blue Jays victory, the 2025 World Series is tied at two games apiece. The Fall Classic returns to Toronto for a three-game streak. It will conclude there this weekend. Bieber wasn’t exactly high on the Blue Jays’ rotation this season. Not even in the middle of the pack. The former Guardian was coming off Tommy John surgery this season, entering the final year of his contract with Cleveland (with a $16 million player option for next year). The Blue Jays acquired him in a low-flying, low-risk trade, dealing a two-time callup named Khal Stephen in exchange. The thought process at the time may not have necessarily been, “Bieber is going to start in what’s a must-win in the World Series,” but the goal was certainly to get him ready and willing to pitch in big spots and start in the playoffs. Again, if Bieber was rocked early in this game, he likely would have slammed the door shut on the Blue Jays’ chances of winning their first title in 32 years. The marathon innings wouldn’t be able to lift off from the bullpen again, and the Dodgers are probably good enough to close out three straight games. Though Bieber went out there. In fact, you have to credit the whole Blue Jays team. They fell behind in the morning, but pushed back. We’ve seen them do this many times. It happened so often in the regular season. They came back from a hole against the Mariners in the ALCS and then won Games 6 and 7 after taking the following blowout in Game 5. They were behind in Game 1 of the World Series before getting a big hit. And now, after an 18-inning loss that could have been devastating, they came out and hit the ball hard and got great pitching and defense. Oh, and did we mention that one of the league’s best players (George Springer) was injured? No matter. The Blue Jays have contained the streak and it happened. Bieber was front and center. Remember all the debate going into Game 4 whether the Blue Jays should pitch around Shohei Ohtani? Bieber walked Ohtani in the first inning, but then struck him out twice. Those were Ohtani’s first two outs at Dodger Stadium since Game 3 of the NLCS on October 16. To only give up one run on four hits in 5⅓ innings. His stuff isn’t so overpowering or anything. Especially not this year, given the first-handedness. First year’s tough. Bieber just gets his job done with control and deception. You could tell he was out of action through the fifth inning and into the sixth when the Jays just needed a good start. He put two runners on, but Mason Fluharty came out of the bullpen to relieve Bieber, much like Bieber essentially lifted the whole bullpen in this one inning in the sixth. And while we’ll give credit to Fluharty and Chris Bassitt, who were instrumental in helping this go down, let’s not forget Bieber. Let’s say the Jays pull out a close win in Game 5 thanks to some hard work for their top reliever, and then go on to win the World Series. The load on Bieber’s shoulders in the sixth inning of Game 4 was vital in setting up Game 5. Now the cycle comes back to that trade in July. Bieber’s MLB pitch on April 2, 2024, wasn’t the only one he earned with 59 pitches on a minor rehab assignment as he wanted to come back from major surgery. He thought the Blue Jays had a good shot at catching him. It was beautiful. Game 4 of the 2025 World Series proved the same. And the Blue Jays are now two wins away from their first World Series title since that legendary Joe Carter home run in 1993.
প্রকাশিত: 2025-10-29 09:51:00
উৎস: www.cbssports.com
