[jg2977]

COLIN COWHERD:
Alright, folks, here’s what you need to understand — home teams are absolutely dominating this series. Tampa Bay can’t win on the road, Toronto can’t lose at home. It’s that simple. Friday’s game? A 14-9 slugfest in favor of the Blue Jays. Jose Villavicencio goes 4-for-5, drives in 4, scores once. That’s a guy who took the Rogers Centre and said, “Tonight, I’m the story.”
Look, Tampa Bay had some moments — Mojica goes 4-for-5, hits a homer — but when you give up 14 runs, you’re not going anywhere. The series is now tied 2-2, and momentum swings back to Toronto because they’re at home for Game 5. If you’re betting on who’s in control, you’re looking at the Jays.
MIKE FRANCESA:
I’m telling you — it’s the same old story. Home team advantage is huge in the playoffs. You can’t tell me otherwise. I don’t care if it’s Tampa Bay or Toronto, it’s the same pattern: the crowd, the familiarity, the comfort. It’s giving Toronto that edge, plain and simple. And Villavicencio? That’s a shortstop making a statement. 4-for-5? That’s not luck, that’s skill.
Capriotti and Childress gave up 13 combined runs. 13! That’s not pitching — that’s surrendering. You can’t win a playoff series giving up runs like that at home. It’s a recipe for disaster.
CHRIS RUSSO:
Forget about it, Francesa — I’m screaming! Home teams are running the show. Look at the scoreline: 14-9! That’s a baseball game that got out of control in the most entertaining way possible. Toronto exploded in the fourth inning, eight runs! That’s like a playoff highlight reel in one frame. And the crowd? That’s a factor, too. Rogers Centre was rocking, and every single Toronto player fed off that energy.
Capriotti? He’s getting bombed, the Rays’ bullpen isn’t much better. Toronto’s hitting every pitch like it’s a fastball in the batting cage. It’s pandemonium!
BOB COSTAS:
And yet, amidst the chaos, there’s a rhythm to it. Villavicencio’s four singles, Polidori’s home run in the first, Diaz delivering in the fourth — these are the orchestrated bursts of brilliance that make postseason baseball so compelling. There’s artistry in the mayhem. Even when Tampa Bay attempted to rally, the Jays’ home-field energy seemed to absorb every effort and redirect it into offensive production.
It’s rare to see a game so high-scoring yet so precise. Each run tells a story — a misplayed pitch, a perfectly placed hit, a stolen base — all contributing to the narrative. And after Game 4, the series is beautifully balanced, setting the stage for an electrifying continuation.
COWHERD:
Bottom line: home teams dominate, and Toronto’s now got the upper hand. The Rays need to respond in Game 5, and they have to do it on the road. History says that’s a tough task.
FRANCESCA:
Tied series. Home team advantage. Toronto likes this. Tampa Bay? They need a miracle away from Tropicana.
RUSSO:
The fans made a difference! Toronto’s crowd was insane, and the players fed off that energy. This series is turning into a classic.
COSTAS:
Indeed, and as the night settled over Rogers Centre, one could almost feel the weight of each swing, each decision. Baseball, at its core, is a game of moments — and tonight, Toronto owned every single one.