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

This year's World Series is headed to a decisive Game 7 following the Los Angeles Dodgers kept alive their repeat hopes intact Friday night with a three to one victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic game-ending double play, stunning a Rogers Centre crowd that had arrived prepared to celebrate the team's championship in 32 years.

Game 6 Summary

The Dodgers generated all of their scoring in the third frame. With two outs, Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to score Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Mookie Betts came through with a two-run single to left, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 lead.

Betts’ hit snapped a postseason slump and revived the title holders' aspirations of being the first repeat championship victors since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Mound Battle

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, striking out six of the first seven Dodgers he faced. He fanned eight through three innings, matching a World Series record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Toronto ace finished with 8 Ks over six innings, yielding three runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, meanwhile, was solid again under pressure. The 27-year-old right-hander outdueled his counterpart for the second time in a seven days, giving up one run on five hits over six frames with six strikeouts. He improved to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him resulted from George Springer two-out single in the third inning, driving in Addison Barger, who had doubled earlier in the inning. That single offered a momentary lift in his return to the starting nine after sitting out two games with an side strain.

Relief Heroics

After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. Rookie Justin Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh, and fellow rookie Sasaki worked into the ninth before plunking Kirk to open the inning. Barger followed with a double that got stuck under the left-center-field fence, obliging base runners to hold at second and third.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' Game 3 starter, came on in a relief role and got a pop fly before Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and threw to second to double off Barger, sealing the victory and earning Glasnow his first-ever save.

Looking Ahead: Seventh Game

The best-of-seven now boils down to one game. Max Scherzer will start for Toronto, becoming the only living pitcher to start multiple World Series Game 7s after accomplishing that in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The 40-year-old signed a single-season contract to pursue one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this playoff run.

The Dodgers, aiming to be the sport's first back-to-back title winners in almost 25 years, are projected to rely on Shohei Ohtani for a short outing.

Lori Horne
Lori Horne

Elara Vance is a passionate storyteller and writing coach, dedicated to helping others find their unique voice through engaging narratives.