Los Angeles Dodgers Hold On in Canada to Force Decisive Game 7 in World Series

This year's World Series is headed to a decisive seventh game following the Los Angeles Dodgers kept their repeat hopes intact on Friday with a three to one win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a dramatic game-ending twin killing, stunning a Rogers Centre crowd that had arrived prepared to celebrate the city’s championship in over three decades.

Sixth Game Summary

The Dodgers produced all of their scoring in the third frame. With two outs, Ohtani was intentionally walked before Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to score Edman. Freddie Freeman earned a base on balls to load the bases, and Betts delivered with a two-run single to the opposite field, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

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

Mound Battle

Kevin Gausman had been dominant to that point, fanning six of the first seven Dodgers he faced. He struck out 8 through three innings, tying a Fall Classic record, but the third-inning barrage proved costly. The Toronto ace ended with eight strikeouts over six innings, yielding three runs on three hits and two free passes.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in contrast, was solid again under stress. The righty outdueled Gausman for the second occasion in a week, allowing one run on five base hits over six innings with six strikeouts. He improved to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him resulted from Springer’s two-out single in the third, scoring Addison Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. That single offered a brief spark in his comeback to the lineup after sitting out two games with an side strain.

Relief Heroics

From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. First-year pitcher Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Sasaki worked into the ninth before plunking Alejandro Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that became wedged under the outfield wall, forcing runners to hold at second and third base.

Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starting pitcher, came on in a relief role and induced a popout before Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and threw to second base to retire Barger, sealing the victory and earning Glasnow his first-ever successful save.

Looking Ahead: Seventh Game

The series now comes down to a single contest. Scherzer will take the mound for Toronto, making him the sole active hurler to pitch in multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The 40-year-old signed a one-year deal to pursue another championship and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.

The Dodgers, aiming to become baseball’s initial repeat champions in nearly a quarter-century, are projected to lean on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.

Devin Brady
Devin Brady

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