Los Angeles Dodgers Hold On in Toronto to Set Up Decisive Game 7 in World Series
The championship series is going to a final Game 7 following the Dodgers kept their repeat hopes intact on Friday with a 3–1 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 6.
The reigning title holders ended Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic final twin killing, stunning a Rogers Centre crowd that had come ready to celebrate the team's first title in over three decades.
Game 6 Summary
The Dodgers produced all of their offense in the third inning. With two outs, Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith doubled to left field to score Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts came through with a two-run single to left, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.
Betts’ hit broke a postseason slump and rekindled the defending champions’ hopes of being the initial back-to-back championship winners since the Yankees won three consecutive from 1998 through 2000.
Pitching Duel
Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, fanning six of the first seven batters he faced. He struck out 8 through three frames, matching a Fall Classic record, but the third-frame rally proved decisive. The Toronto ace finished with eight strikeouts over six frames, yielding three runs on three hits and two walks.
Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under pressure. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched his counterpart for the second occasion in a seven days, allowing one run on five base hits over six frames with six Ks. He boosted his record 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 inning, driving in Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit offered a brief spark in his comeback to the starting nine after missing two games with an side strain.
Bullpen Effort
After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. Rookie Wrobleski escaped a tight spot in the seventh inning, and another rookie Rōki Sasaki worked into the ninth before plunking Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger then hit a double that got stuck under the outfield wall, obliging runners to hold at second and third base.
Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starting pitcher, came on in relief and got a pop fly before Giménez lined to left field. Hernández made the catch and threw to second base to retire Barger, sealing the victory and earning Glasnow his first-ever save.
Looking Ahead: Seventh Game
The series now boils down to one game. Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, becoming the sole active hurler to pitch in multiple World Series Game 7s after accomplishing that in 2019 with the Nationals. The veteran inked a single-season contract to chase another championship and has been a outspoken presence throughout this playoff run.
The Los Angeles squad, aiming to be 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.