LA Dodgers Survive in Toronto to Set Up Decisive Game 7 in World Series
This year's World Series is going to a final Game 7 following the Los Angeles Dodgers kept their repeat dreams intact on Friday with a three to one win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.
The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a thrilling game-ending double play, stunning a home audience that had arrived prepared to cheer the city’s first title in over three decades.
Game 6 Summary
Los Angeles generated all of their offense in the third frame. With two away, Ohtani was purposely passed before Will Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to bring home Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Mookie Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to left, handing the Dodgers a 3–0 lead.
That key hit broke a postseason slump and rekindled the title holders' hopes of becoming the first repeat championship winners since the New York Yankees won three consecutive from 1998 to 2000.
Mound Battle
Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that stage, fanning half a dozen of the initial seven batters he faced. He struck out eight through three innings, tying a Fall Classic mark, but the third-frame rally proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star ended with eight strikeouts over six frames, yielding three runs on three hits and two walks.
Yamamoto, in contrast, was steady again under stress. The righty outdueled Gausman for the second occasion in a seven days, allowing one run on five hits over six frames with six Ks. He improved to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.
The lone score against him resulted from Springer’s two-out base hit in the third, scoring Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a brief spark in his comeback to the starting nine after sitting out a pair of contests with an oblique injury.
Relief Heroics
After that, the Los Angeles relievers carried the load. First-year pitcher Justin Wrobleski escaped a tight spot in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Sasaki worked into the ninth inning before hitting Alejandro Kirk to start the inning. Addison Barger then hit a two-base hit that got stuck under the left-center-field fence, obliging base runners to stay at second and third base.
Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starting pitcher, entered in a relief role and induced a pop fly before Andrés Giménez lined to left field. Hernández made the catch and fired to second base to double off the runner, clinching the victory and earning the pitcher his first-ever successful save.
Looking Ahead: Seventh Game
The best-of-seven now comes down to a single contest. Max Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, making him the sole active hurler to start multiple World Series Game 7s after accomplishing that in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The 40-year-old inked a one-year deal to pursue one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this playoff run.
The Dodgers, looking to be baseball’s initial repeat champions in almost 25 years, are expected to lean on their two-way star for a brief appearance.