The mood inside Rogers Centre on Saturday night was just right for Game 2. After five innings, the score was tied 1-1 between the Blue Jays and the LA Dodgers. And it was Kevin Gausman who was on the mound with his game-defining streak. But what happened next wasn’t another clutch hit or dramatic strikeout; it was a melodic turn that utterly shocked baseball fans.

The giant screens lit up for MLB’s annual Stand Up To Cancer tribute as the players left the field. Fans in the grandstand held up signs with the names of people who the disease had afflicted. Across the diamond, the tributes painted a mosaic of lives touched by cancer. George Springer’s placard carried the names of his grandparents. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. held up a simple word: “Abuela.” Mookie Betts stood quietly with “Ron” written on his card.

The camera swept through Rogers Centre, capturing fans clutching their own messages—some carefully printed, others scrawled by hand. “Survivors.” “Those We Lost.” “Loved Ones.” For a few minutes, the stadium became something bigger than baseball. But then, something surprising happened.

The Jonas Brothers, who were ambassadors for SU2C, brought out their mics and guitars on the World Series stage. They teamed up with Mastercard to perform their new tune, “I Can’t Lose,” which is the charity campaign’s official song, dedicated to cancer survivors and fighters.

With supporters all around the stage and signs still up, the three also paid tribute to their father, Kevin Jonas Sr., who is a cancer survivor himself.

“On days like this, it hits me out of the blue...” Nick Jonas’s voice filled the dome as he performed. The songs had the same blend of strength and hope that Stand Up To Cancer stands for. They reminded everyone that sports are about more than just scoreboards.

But a groundbreaking initiative that has been a part of every notable MLB event since 2009 was quick to turn into a spew of mockery online. It wasn’t so much about the cause as it was about the way the league had chosen to present it.

A lot of people were left confused by the timing of the Jonas Brothers’ performance. The announcement of the sibling trio’s performance was announced a day prior to the series, but no one seemed prepared for it right in the middle of a tied World Series game; a series where one team is contesting for its first title since 1993 and another, for a second consecutive ring for the first time since the Yankees did it in 2000.

So the tensions remained high, both on the field and the social media, with frustrations flowing in long after the performance was over

Fans reacted to the mid-game musical moment

The performance may have been for a good cause, but it quickly ignited a storm among fans. Some wondered if MLB had thought about how the break would affect the rhythm of the game. One angry viewer didn’t hold back: “I’m confused. We just HAULTED a World Series game halfway thru for a JONAS BROTHERS SONG?! If Gausman gets hit here blame the delay and MLB for this bull—t.” The worry wasn’t made up.

Pitchers operate on precise routines, and extended delays can cool down arms and disrupt mental focus. Kevin Gausman was in charge and had retired 17 successive batters before the tie was broken in the seventh inning.

Others framed it more directly around game management. “Why the F are the Jonas brothers playing when Gausman is supposed to be pitching?? Ruining his rhythm,” another fan posted. In the seventh inning, Max Muncy and Will Smith both connected for home runs, breaking through against a pitcher who had been dominant.

The atmosphere inside Rogers Centre reportedly shifted, too. “I love how the entire blue jays stadium started booing when the Jonas brothers were announce to sing a song after the moment of silence for cancer.” A fan observed. The 44,607 crowd in the stadium was riding high on the first victory in 32 years from the previous day. The underdogs were challenging the narrative, and clearly no disruptions were entertained.

Every choice seemed more important because the game was tied and the momentum was in the air. “If the Jays lose it’s entirely on that weird Jonas Brothers performance in the middle of the game,” one supporter predicted. Well, the final scorecard read 5-1 with the Dodgers winning. The impact of the performance on the outcome is uncertain. But, Los Angeles outhit Toronto late in the game, scoring four runs while their pitchers silenced the Blue Jays.

But perhaps the sharpest observation came wrapped in humour. “Kevin Gausman upstaged the Jonas Brothers by shutting down the Dodgers in less time than their live performance took. A hero.” He finished with a decent outing—three runs allowed with six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings—suggesting the delay didn’t completely derail him.

The Dodgers dominated and showed why they are the favourites. Whether the mid-game performance played any role remains debatable among fans, but it’s now permanently woven into Game 2’s narrative. In the court of fan opinion, where emotions run higher than statistics, the Jonas Brothers’ performance at World Series had already secured its place in the game’s story—for better or worse.