Keep the champagne on ice. For the first time in this World Series, the Dodgers suffered defeat, falling to the New York Yankees 11-4 in Game 4 Tuesday night. L.A.’s lead in the series is now 3-1.
It got ugly late, as the Yankees scored five runs in the bottom of the 8th. However, it was clear early on the approach that Dave Roberts and the Dodgers were going to take in Game 4.
After a grand slam by Anthony Volpe pushed New York ahead 5-2 in the third inning, the Dodgers came back in the next frame with Landon Knack on the bump. Roberts said on the broadcast he was looking for the rookie pitcher to eat some innings.
Trailing by two runs in the eighth inning, Brent Honeywell Jr. was given the ball. Unfortunately for the Dodgers reliever, things got out of hand with him on the mound. Honeywell Jr. didn’t pitch as poorly as his line — one inning, four hits, five earned runs, one walk, 50 pitches — but had to wear it in Yankee Stadium with the world watching.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates his two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) 
New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo, left, Aaron Judge, center, and Juan Soto celebrate after Game 4 of the baseball World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. The Yankees won 11-4. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) 
Fans interfere with a foul ball caught by Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) 
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani strike out against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) 
New York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe celebrates his grand slam home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) 
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Gavin Lux (9), Kiké Hernández (8), Tommy Edman (25) and Mookie Betts (50) celebrate after Game 3 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. The Dodgers won 4-2. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) 
New York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe reacts after scoring against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) 
New York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe hits a grand slam home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) 
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman watches his two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: Fans interfere with Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he attempts to catch a fly ball in foul territory during the first inning of Game Four of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The play resulted in an out. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) 
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani strikes out against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Yankees benefited from a bad call in which Volpe was given an additional strike convincing the umpire that an apparent swing-and-miss on what would have been strike three was a foul tip, a dropped foul ball by catcher Will Smith off the bat of Austin Wells which should’ve been the second out of the inning and an off-line throw to home by Gavin Lux with the infield playing in allowing a run to score.
Lux’s play, had it been two outs, would’ve been a routine grounder to end the inning. Instead, all five runs in the inning came as a result of that sequence of events.
Entering Tuesday, knowing that it would be a bullpen game, there were questions about what the Dodgers’ approach would be in Game 4 when it came to the handling of the relievers. Would they go all-in just 27 outs away from a title? Or would Roberts and company continue the philosophy of playing the long game?
Roberts acknowledged in the past that although it may be tough to watch at times, he won’t jeopardize a series for one potential win. On Tuesday, that meant leaving Knack and Honeywell Jr. out there to eat innings even with the Dodgers trailing by just one run entering the sixth inning. By doing so, the Dodgers will have its full complement of high-leverage relievers available. Something Roberts and the Dodgers have reason to feel good about. Still, it’s shaping up to be a very interesting Game 5.
It will be a battle of SoCal natives once again with Game 1 starters — Jack Flaherty for the Dodgers and Gerrit Cole for the Yankees — returning to the mound.
While neither factored into the decision in a game that ended with Freddie Freeman hitting the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, Flaherty was able to go toe-to-toe with the Yankees ace.
Can he do it again?
Other pressing questions come to the fold. Will the Dodgers be able to win another game that Cole starts? And could an unintended consequence of the Dodgers preserving high-leverage arms be that the Yankees have now found their groove offensively?
The answers to those questions, in part, will dictate whether the champagne remains on ice or not.
