LA Dodgers Survive in Toronto to Set Up Decisive Game 7 in World Series

The championship series is headed to a final seventh game following the Dodgers kept their repeat dreams alive on Friday with a 3–1 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic final double play, silencing a Rogers Centre audience that had come ready to celebrate the city’s championship in over three decades.

Sixth Game Summary

Los Angeles produced all of their scoring in the third inning. With two outs, Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith doubled to left to score Edman. Freddie Freeman earned a base on balls to load the bases, and Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to left, giving the Dodgers a three-run lead.

That key hit broke a postseason slump and rekindled the title holders' aspirations of becoming the first repeat World Series victors since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Mound Battle

Kevin Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that stage, fanning six of the initial seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out 8 through three innings, tying a World Series record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Toronto ace ended with 8 Ks over six innings, yielding three earned runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in contrast, was steady again under stress. The righty outdueled his counterpart for the second occasion in a week, allowing one run on five hits over six innings with six Ks. He improved to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him came on George Springer two-out single in the third, scoring Addison Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a brief spark in his return to the lineup after sitting out two games with an oblique injury.

Bullpen Effort

From there, the Los Angeles relievers took over. First-year pitcher Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh inning, and another rookie Rōki Sasaki worked into the ninth inning before plunking Kirk to start the frame. Addison Barger then hit a double that became wedged under the outfield wall, forcing base runners to hold at second and third base.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' Game 3 starter, came on in relief and induced a popout before Andrés 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 giving the pitcher his first-ever save.

Next Up: Game 7

The series now boils down to a single contest. Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, becoming the sole active hurler to start multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The veteran signed a single-season contract to chase one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this playoff run.

The Los Angeles squad, aiming to be baseball’s initial repeat title winners in nearly a quarter-century, are expected to lean on their two-way star for a brief appearance.

James Ward
James Ward

Astrophysicist and science communicator passionate about unraveling the mysteries of the universe through accessible writing.