Los Angeles Dodgers Survive in Canada to Force Decisive Game 7 in World Series
This year's World Series is headed to a final seventh game following the Los Angeles Dodgers kept alive their title defense dreams intact on Friday with a three to one win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.
The reigning title holders ended Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic game-ending twin killing, stunning a home audience that had come ready to cheer the team's first title in 32 years.
Sixth Game Recap
The Dodgers generated all of their offense in the third inning. With two away, Ohtani was intentionally walked before Will Smith doubled to left to bring home Edman. Freddie Freeman earned a base on balls to fill the bases, and Mookie Betts delivered with a two-RBI hit to the opposite field, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.
Betts’ hit broke a playoff dry spell and revived the title holders' aspirations of being the initial back-to-back championship victors since the New York Yankees won three consecutive from 1998 through 2000.
Mound Duel
Gausman had been dominant to that point, fanning half a dozen of the first seven batters he faced. He struck out 8 through three innings, matching a World Series mark, but the third-inning barrage proved costly. The Blue Jays' star ended with eight strikeouts over six innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks.
Yamamoto, in contrast, was solid again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched Gausman for the second time in a seven days, giving up one run on five hits over six frames with six Ks. He boosted his record to four wins and one loss this postseason with a 1.56 ERA.
The lone score against him resulted from George Springer two-out base hit in the third, scoring Barger, who had doubled earlier in the inning. That single provided a momentary lift in his return to the lineup after missing a pair of contests with an side strain.
Relief Effort
After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. Rookie Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh inning, and another rookie Rōki Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before plunking Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that became wedged under the left-center-field fence, obliging runners to stay at second and third base.
Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starter, came on in a relief role and induced a pop fly before Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Enrique Hernández made the catch and threw to second base to double off the runner, clinching the win and earning the pitcher his first career save.
Next Up: Seventh Game
The best-of-seven now comes down to a single contest. Max Scherzer will take the mound for the Blue Jays, becoming the only living pitcher to pitch in multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in 2019 with Washington. The 40-year-old inked a single-season contract to chase one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this postseason.
The Dodgers, looking to become baseball’s first back-to-back title winners in almost 25 years, are expected to rely on their two-way star for a short outing.