Steve Webb
World Series Game 4, 10/29/2024: Dodgers 4, Yankees 11
BRONX, NY — For a Dodgers fanbase looking to cap off an incredible season with a clean World Series sweep, Tuesday night’s Game 4 at Yankee Stadium brought an unexpected halt to the team’s runaway momentum. With manager Dave Roberts’ limited bullpen options and a taxed relief crew, the Dodgers fell 11-4 to the Yankees, who clawed their way back into the series, forcing Game 5.
Coming off three consecutive wins, the Dodgers found themselves relying on their bullpen for the fourth time this postseason. With a huge lead in the Series, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was juggling his pitching rotation to protect his two highest-leverage arms, Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen, who had been heavily utilized in the opening games. Unfortunately, that decision put more pressure on the rest of the bullpen and rookie relievers like Landon Knack and Ben Casparius. And, in the third inning, things began to unravel in the Bronx.
Right-hander Daniel Hudson took the mound in the third, holding a narrow 2-1 lead. However, Hudson’s grip on the game quickly slipped as he hit Aaron Judge, surrendered a deep single to Jazz Chisholm Jr., and loaded the bases after walking Giancarlo Stanton. Even though Hudson managed to get Anthony Rizzo to pop out, the Yankees still had runners in scoring position, and the Dodgers’ bullpen wasn’t in a position to offer immediate help.
This set the stage for Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. With a mighty swing, Volpe crushed Hudson’s first-pitch slider for a grand slam that sent Yankee Stadium into a frenzy and put the Yankees up 5-2 — their first lead since Game 1. “I felt the ground literally shaking,” said Austin Wells, who was on deck as Volpe circled the bases. For Dodgers fans, this was the moment the sweep slipped away.
Despite the setback, Roberts was not about to make drastic moves to recover the inning. When asked why he didn’t call upon left-handers like Alex Vesia or Anthony Banda to face the Yankees’ left-heavy lineup, Roberts explained, “I’m not going to use [someone else] in the third inning right there… Every guy we use comes with a cost going forward.” It was clear Roberts was determined to avoid taxing his bullpen any more than necessary, even if it meant watching Game 4 slip out of reach.
Hudson, who had been solid throughout the season with a 3.00 ERA, acknowledged his mistake. Reflecting on Volpe’s grand slam, he admitted, “It popped out of my hand, and I just couldn’t catch it.” With that, the Yankees were firmly in control, and the Dodgers were left to try and chip away at the deficit.
Freddie Freeman, who had already homered in the first inning to give the Dodgers an early lead, continued to battle. His home run was his sixth consecutive World Series game with a homer, a record that dates back to his days with the Atlanta Braves. Later, he beat out a double play to bring in another run, keeping the Dodgers within reach at 5-4. But the Yankees wouldn’t let the Dodgers’ resilience close the gap for long.
The Yankees, determined to stay alive, rallied again. In the sixth inning, Wells launched a solo homer off Knack, and by the eighth inning, Gleyber Torres sealed the deal with a three-run blast, bringing the score to 11-4. The Dodgers’ bullpen, stretched thin and worn out from back-to-back games, simply couldn’t hold the Yankees down.
As the Yankees’ lead grew, Dodgers fans in Yankee Stadium watched in frustration as the Yankees piled on runs, capitalizing on each opportunity that presented itself. Even Mookie Betts, who had been steady and clutch throughout the season, was part of the night’s unexpected turns. In the first inning, a Yankees fan attempted to grab the ball out of Betts’ glove on a fly ball in foul territory, resulting in fan interference and an out call. This early scuffle seemed to set the tone for an unpredictable game.
After the game, Betts acknowledged the effort of the Yankees. “We’re up three to one right now, we feel pretty good about it,” he said. “But you know that they’re gonna fight… No lead is safe until you win the fourth game.” With the Yankees now on the board in this Series, they’ll head into Game 5 with ace Gerrit Cole facing Jack Flaherty.
The Dodgers are still firmly in control with a 3-1 series lead. Historically, only one team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, and no team has pushed a World Series beyond Game 6 in that position. Yet, as Roberts held back his top relievers to keep them fresh, fans couldn’t help but wonder if the conservative strategy might come back to haunt them.
Now, as the Dodgers look ahead to Game 5, they’ll need to shake off this loss and keep their eyes on the ultimate prize. But with the Yankees now fueled by the Bronx crowd and a glimmer of momentum, Dodgers fans will be watching with cautious optimism, hoping that Roberts’ decision to rest his best arms will pay off in the long run rather than keep the Series alive.
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