LA Dodgers Survive in Toronto to Set Up Decisive Game 7 in Fall Classic

The World Series is headed to a final seventh game following the Dodgers kept their repeat hopes alive on Friday with a three to one win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

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

Game 6 Summary

The Dodgers generated all of their scoring in the third inning. With two away, Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked before Will Smith hit a two-bagger to left to score Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Mookie Betts delivered with a two-run single to left, handing the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.

That key hit snapped a postseason slump and revived the title holders' aspirations of becoming the first repeat World Series winners since the New York Yankees won three consecutive from 1998 to 2000.

Mound Battle

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, fanning six of the initial seven Dodgers he faced. He fanned eight through three frames, matching a Fall Classic record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star finished with eight strikeouts over six frames, yielding three runs on three hits and two walks.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched Gausman for the second occasion in a seven days, giving up one run on five base 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 only run against him resulted from Springer’s two-out single in the third, driving in Addison Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a brief spark in his comeback to the lineup after sitting out a pair of contests with an side strain.

Bullpen Effort

After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. First-year pitcher Justin Wrobleski escaped a jam in the seventh, and fellow rookie Rōki Sasaki worked into the ninth before plunking Alejandro Kirk to open the frame. Barger then hit a two-base hit that became wedged under the left-center-field fence, forcing runners to hold at second and third base.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starting pitcher, came on in relief and induced a pop fly before Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Hernández made the catch and threw to second base to double off Barger, sealing the win and giving Glasnow his first career save.

Looking Ahead: Seventh Game

The best-of-seven now comes down to one game. Max Scherzer will start for Toronto, making him the sole active hurler to pitch in more than one World Series Game 7s after doing so in 2019 with Washington. The veteran signed a single-season contract to chase one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.

The Los Angeles squad, aiming to be the sport's initial repeat champions in nearly a quarter-century, are expected to lean on their two-way star for a short outing.

Jessica Richards
Jessica Richards

A tech journalist and industry analyst with over a decade of experience covering global markets and emerging technologies.