TORONTO — They began the night as close as any team in a quarter-century has come to repeating as World Series champions.
Nine innings later, the shellshocked Los Angeles Dodgers weren't any closer to their goal – and suddenly realize how much difficult it will be to reach it.
Their ace stumbled. Their ad hoc bullpen, which hasn't stopped taking hits from injury and terrible performance and tragic circumstance, stumbled through a nine-run embarrassment of an inning. Their two-way superstar was mocked mercilessly by a fan base still annoyed he didn't choose them.
And by night's end, the Toronto Blue Jays' 11-4 victory was an undeniable reality check for a club that seemed indomitable.
And now may very much be in trouble.
