LA Dodgers Survive in Canada to Force Winner-Take-All Game 7 in World Series
The World Series is going to a decisive Game 7 following the Dodgers kept their repeat hopes alive Friday night with a 3–1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.
The defending champions halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic final double play, stunning a home crowd that had come ready to celebrate the team's championship in 32 years.
Sixth Game Recap
The Dodgers produced all of their scoring in the third frame. With two away, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Will Smith hit a two-bagger to left to bring home Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to left, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.
Betts’ hit broke a postseason slump and rekindled the defending champions’ hopes of becoming the first repeat World Series victors since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.
Pitching Battle
Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that stage, fanning six of the initial seven batters he faced. He struck out eight through three frames, tying a Fall Classic mark, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Toronto ace finished with 8 Ks over six frames, allowing three runs on three safeties and two walks.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in contrast, was steady again under stress. The righty outdueled his counterpart for the second time in a seven days, allowing one run on five base hits over six innings with six strikeouts. He boosted his record to four wins and one loss this postseason with a 1.56 ERA.
The lone score against him resulted from Springer’s two-out base hit in the third inning, driving in Addison Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. That single offered a brief spark in his return to the starting nine after sitting out two games with an side strain.
Relief Heroics
From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. First-year pitcher Justin Wrobleski escaped a jam in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Rōki Sasaki worked into the ninth inning before plunking Alejandro Kirk to open the frame. Barger followed with a two-base hit that got stuck under the left-center-field fence, forcing runners to hold at second and third.
Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starter, entered in relief and induced a pop fly before Andrés Giménez hit a line drive to left. Enrique Hernández made the catch and fired to second to retire Barger, sealing the victory and giving the pitcher his first-ever successful save.
Looking Ahead: Seventh Game
The series now comes down to a single contest. Max Scherzer will take the mound for the Blue Jays, becoming the sole active hurler to start multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in 2019 with the Nationals. The 40-year-old inked a one-year deal to chase one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.
The Los Angeles squad, aiming to become baseball’s first back-to-back title winners in almost 25 years, are expected to lean on their two-way star for a brief appearance.