The World Series is going to a decisive seventh game following the Los Angeles Dodgers kept alive their repeat dreams alive on Friday with a three to one victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.
The defending champions halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a thrilling game-ending double play, stunning a Rogers Centre audience that had arrived prepared to cheer the city’s first title in 32 years.
Game 6 Recap
The Dodgers generated all of their scoring in the third frame. With two away, Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked before Will Smith doubled to left field to bring home Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts delivered with a two-run single to the opposite field, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.
Betts’ hit broke a playoff dry spell and rekindled the title holders' aspirations of being the initial back-to-back World Series winners since the Yankees captured three straight from 1998 through 2000.
Pitching Duel
Gausman had been dominant to that point, striking out half a dozen of the first seven batters he confronted. He struck out 8 through three innings, tying a Fall Classic mark, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star finished with eight strikeouts over six innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two free passes.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under pressure. The 27-year-old right-hander outdueled Gausman for the second time in a week, allowing one run on five base hits over six frames with six Ks. He improved to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.
The only run against him came on George Springer two-out base hit in the third inning, driving in Addison Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. That single provided a momentary lift in his comeback to the lineup after sitting out two games with an oblique injury.
Relief Effort
After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. First-year pitcher Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Rōki Sasaki worked into the ninth before hitting Kirk to open the inning. Addison Barger followed with a double that became wedged under the outfield wall, forcing base runners to hold at second and third base.
Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starter, came on in a relief role and induced a pop fly before Andrés Giménez hit a line drive to left. Hernández caught the ball and threw to second base to retire Barger, sealing the win and earning Glasnow his first-ever save.
Looking Ahead: Game 7
The series now comes down to one game. Max Scherzer will start for Toronto, becoming the sole active hurler to pitch in more than one World Series Game 7s after doing so in 2019 with Washington. The veteran inked a one-year deal to chase one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this postseason.
The Los Angeles squad, aiming to become baseball’s initial repeat champions in almost 25 years, are expected to rely on their two-way star for a brief appearance.
