In Game 4, Toronto prevailed by a score of 3 – 1…..which made this the second game of the series in which the Blue Jays won after trailing going into their final at bat…..thus giving Toronto a 3–1 lead in the best-of-seven series….while putting them one win away from becoming the first team outside the United States to represent their league in the World Series.
The fourth game was a rematch of the pitchers who had started Game 1…..with the Blue Jays’ Dave Stieb taking on the Royals’ Charlie Leibrandt….when entering the bottom of the sixth….the Blue Jays had only two hits….and the Royals only had one….then came a walk to Lonnie Smith…..and a single to Willie Wilson….which put runners at first and third with nobody out and the hot-hitting George Brett at the plate. Showing great respect for Brett’s dominance in the series, Toronto manager Bobby Cox opted to intentionally walk him, loading the bases with nobody out….which initially seemed to backfire….as Stieb walked Hal McRae to give the Royals a 1–0 lead….but Stieb got out of the inning by inducing a Sheridan pop out and a double play grounder from Frank White.
Entering the ninth, it appeared the bases-loaded walk to McRae was going to be the difference in the game…..as Leibrandt opened the ninth having surrendered only four hits….but a walk to Damaso Garcia….when a double by Lloyd Moseby tied the game. Royals closer Dan Quisenberry entered the game….and gave up a single to George Bell and a double to Al Oliver that scored Moseby and Bell….while giving the Jays a 3–1 lead. The Royals did get two on and two out in the ninth, but Henke got out of the jam….and emerged as the winning pitcher for the second time in three games.
