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

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

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a thrilling game-ending twin killing, silencing a Rogers Centre audience that had come ready to celebrate the city’s championship in over three decades.

Game 6 Summary

Los Angeles generated all of their scoring in the third frame. With two away, Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked 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, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.

Betts’ hit snapped a postseason slump and rekindled the defending champions’ hopes of becoming the first repeat World Series victors since the New York Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 to 2000.

Pitching Battle

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that stage, striking out half a dozen of the first seven batters he faced. He struck out 8 through three innings, tying a Fall Classic mark, but the third-frame rally proved decisive. The Toronto ace finished with eight strikeouts over six innings, allowing three earned runs on three safeties and two walks.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outdueled his counterpart for the second occasion in a week, allowing a single run on five base hits over six innings with six strikeouts. He improved to 4–1 this postseason with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him came on Springer’s two-out base hit in the third inning, scoring Barger, who had hit a double earlier in the inning. That single offered a brief spark in his comeback to the starting nine after sitting out two games with an oblique injury.

Relief Effort

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

Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starter, entered in relief and got a pop fly before Giménez lined to left. Hernández caught the ball and threw to second base to retire Barger, sealing the victory and giving Glasnow his first career save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now boils down to a single contest. Max Scherzer will start for Toronto, making him the sole active hurler to pitch in multiple World Series Game 7s after accomplishing that in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The 40-year-old inked a one-year deal to chase one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this postseason.

The Dodgers, looking to be the sport's first back-to-back champions in nearly a quarter-century, are projected to lean on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.

Lori Williams
Lori Williams

A tech enthusiast and business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup consulting.