Los Angeles Dodgers Survive in Toronto to Set Up Decisive Game 7 in Fall Classic

The championship series is going to a decisive Game 7 after the Los Angeles Dodgers kept their repeat dreams intact on Friday with a 3–1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic game-ending twin killing, stunning a home audience that had arrived prepared to cheer the team's first title in 32 years.

Sixth Game Recap

The Dodgers produced all of their scoring in the third inning. With two outs, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith doubled to left to score Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts delivered with a two-RBI hit to the opposite field, handing the Dodgers a three-run lead.

Betts’ hit broke a postseason slump and rekindled the defending champions’ aspirations of becoming the first repeat World Series winners since the New York Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 to 2000.

Pitching Battle

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that stage, fanning six of the initial seven Dodgers he faced. He struck out eight through three frames, matching a Fall Classic record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star ended with 8 Ks over six innings, allowing three runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yamamoto, in contrast, was steady again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched Gausman for the second occasion in a week, giving up a single run on five base hits over six innings with six Ks. He boosted his record to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him came on Springer’s two-out base hit in the third, scoring Addison Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a momentary lift in his comeback to the lineup after missing two games with an oblique injury.

Bullpen Effort

From there, the Los Angeles relievers carried the load. Rookie Justin Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh, and fellow rookie Sasaki pitched into the ninth before plunking Alejandro Kirk to start the frame. Barger then hit a double that got stuck under the left-center-field fence, obliging runners to stay at second and third base.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starter, came on in relief and induced a pop fly before Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Hernández caught the ball and threw to second base to retire the runner, clinching the victory and giving Glasnow his first career save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now boils down to one game. Max Scherzer will start for Toronto, making him the sole active hurler to start more than one World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The veteran inked a one-year deal to pursue one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this playoff run.

The Los Angeles squad, looking to be the sport's first back-to-back champions in nearly a quarter-century, are expected to rely on Shohei Ohtani for a short outing.