Any play involving Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. begins with a baseline level of excitement and intrigue few in the game can match.
So much so that even the superstars themselves can't help but get caught up in the fun.
Ohtani and Guerrero shared a laugh and a universal moment when the Dodgers slugger was nearly tagged out by the Blue Jays first baseman on a pickoff throw by Eric Lauer that could have ended Game 1 of the World Series.
Ohtani slid in just ahead of Guerrero's tag, though the Blue Jays star wasn't convinced. After a challenge, the call was upheld and Ohtani remained at first.
A sheepish Ohtani, realizing he nearly just put himself in the spotlight for the wrong reason, grinned and said something to Guerrero, who responded knowingly and heartily.
Ohtani avoided becoming the second player to be picked off to end a World Series game. The first was Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, who was nabbed by Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara to end Game 4 of the 2013 World Series.
Lauer went on to strike out Mookie Betts to finish off the Blue Jays' 11-4 win.
In typical Ohtani fashion, his game on Friday involved a little bit of everything. He struck out to begin the game, grounded out with the bases loaded in the fifth, homered in the seventh and just avoided a baserunning gaffe that nearly ended it.
All in a day's work for the versatile megastar.
"The homer was nice," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Hopefully he can kind of build on that one."