The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 on Saturday night.
Despite LA looking like they had the game on lock in the eighth inning, a late collapse by closer Kenley Jansen ended up having serious ramifications.
Jansen ultimately gave up two hits and a walk at the end of the game, including a hit by Brett Phillips that brought Randy Arozarena home for the winning run. Prior to his big moment, Phillips was 0-for-5 in the playoffs. When it mattered, though – he delivered the biggest moment of the postseason thus far.
THE ENDING OF RAYS-DODGERS IN GAME 4: pic.twitter.com/6vMnHGpYdq
— ESPN (@espn) October 25, 2020
Arozarena tripped and fell before scoring 😳😳😳 #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/mt71CJLF2D
— ESPN (@espn) October 25, 2020
Although the Dodgers lost on Saturday for a lot of different reasons, fans on Twitter narrowed the team’s woes down to one big one: manager Dave Roberts. After the outing, they absolutely hammered the 48-year-old on Twitter.
Dave Roberts’ reaction to the ending of Game 4 pic.twitter.com/Iv4cQu2zqz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 25, 2020
And……if the @Dodgers lose that series their manager, Dave Roberts, will lose his job.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 25, 2020
Dave Roberts trying to manage the Dodgers bullpen… #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/0XUh3hm7TP
— Mark Brockett (@Tuff_Overlord) October 25, 2020
How does Dave Roberts STILL not understand what everyone here on twitter can see coming a mile away?
— Dodgers Talk (@LaDodgersTalk) October 25, 2020
At worst we should be in extra innings, but Dave Roberts bet the season on Kenley Jansen and here we are. If Dodgers don’t come back and win, he never lives this down. Too emotionally attached. pic.twitter.com/B4hN5E4lSt
— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) October 25, 2020
I am so sick of Kenley Jansen blowing saves. And I’m even more sick of Dave Roberts pretending that it doesn’t matter. pic.twitter.com/Qj7L8cvHYh
— Hillary Smotherman (@hgsmoth) October 25, 2020
Dave Roberts and highly questionable managerial moves in the playoffs.
Every time. A match made in heaven.
— LATree (@UrinatingTree) October 25, 2020
Some questioning of Dave Roberts and his bullpen management…
We’ve heard this story before, right?
— DJC Sports Media (@DanClarkSports) October 25, 2020
It’s pretty wild that hardcore #Dodgers fans anticipated Kenley Jansen pooping his pants in #WorldSeries, except Dave Roberts who actually manages the team and gets paid to make these decisions. #weak
— Ben Maller (@benmaller) October 25, 2020
Does Pedro Baez have some major dirt on Dave Roberts?
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) October 25, 2020
Dodgers fans @ Dave Roberts rn. pic.twitter.com/3gb0PIR49O
— J (@JDodgersLA) October 25, 2020
Dave Roberts in the #Dodgers clubhouse after the game #WorldSeries #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/5QcjYD0dpS
— Taylor Ringold (@TaylorRingold) October 25, 2020
Dave Roberts is a clown for pulling Urias one out short of a decision
— Robert (@rll_mor) October 25, 2020
Dave Roberts explaining what happened tonight #DodgerNation #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/uKjWMVZ6I0
— IB THE GAMBLER (@incarceratedbob) October 25, 2020
With the series now tied at two wins apiece, the Dodgers will look to regain some semblance of confidence on Sunday evening.
If they fall again, then Roberts’ firing will become all but inevitable.
Related: Did Nebraska Play Dirty Against Ohio State? (Video)
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
