Showdown in the Series: Dodgers One Win Away from Championship
Twenty-seven Outs to Glory
As blue-clad fans filed into sports bars and other entertainment venues throughout the Southland on Tuesday afternoon, October 29, they knew that all that stood between their beloved Los Angeles Dodgers and World Series glory is 27 outs.
A Sweep or Bust?
The paramount question, though, is whether those 27 outs will come Tuesday or whether the Dodgers and their fans will have to wait until Wednesday or beyond. Game 4 of the 2024 World Series between the Dodgers and the American League champion New York Yankees got underway shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday, with L.A. boasting a commanding three games to none lead. One more win – 27 outs – and the Dodgers will be champions for the eighth time.
The Party’s Just Getting Started
And the excitement around Southern California has reached a fever pitch. At Legends, a sports bar in Long Beach, fans packed the joint – with some still spilling out onto Belmont Shore’s Second Street – hoping to get a glimpse of the game on the big screens.
Dodgers Fans Unfazed by Yankees’ Grand Slam
Though the Yankees’ Anthony Velope hit a grand slam in the third inning, putting the New Yorkers ahead 5-2, some Dodgers fans were unbothered. "I didn’t really care for it," said Jon-Erik Cendejas, from Long Beach. "I think the Dodgers can come back from it."
A Juggernaut for the Ages
The Dodgers have been a juggernaut for more than a decade, making the postseason each year since 2013 and winning the National League West all but once during that span. They’ve also made the World Series four times since 2017, including this year. But they only have one Commissioner’s Trophy to show for it – the one they won in 2020, a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the regular season to a 60-game sprint.
The Wait is Almost Over
Yet, even though the Yankees have struggled offensively this series and sometimes looked demoralized, they are still the Bronx Bombers. They are still at home. And they will feel confident that they can win Game 4 on the way to becoming the first World Series team to overcome a 3-0 deficit.
Conclusion
For Dodgers fans, that’s enough for some nervousness. Sure, they won the last time the two teams met in the World Series, in 1981. But most of the 11 previous meetings between these two iconic franchises have ended in misery for the Dodgers. The Yankees beat them in back-to-back World Series in 1977 and ’78. The 1977 Series was the year Yankees legend Reggie Jackson – Mr. October himself – launched a record three home runs in one World Series game.
FAQs
Q: How many outs does the Dodgers need to win the World Series?
A: 27 outs
Q: Can the Yankees come back from a 3-0 deficit?
A: Yes, the Yankees would be the first World Series team to overcome a 3-0 deficit
Q: How many times have the Dodgers made the World Series since 2017?
A: 4 times
