Los Angeles Dodgers Hold On in Canada to Force Winner-Take-All Game 7 in Fall Classic

The World Series is going to a decisive seventh game following the Dodgers kept alive their title defense hopes alive Friday night with a three to one win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions ended Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic game-ending twin killing, silencing a home audience that had arrived prepared to celebrate the city’s first title in 32 years.

Sixth Game Summary

The Dodgers generated all of their scoring in the third inning. With two outs, Ohtani was intentionally walked before Will Smith doubled to left to bring home Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts delivered with a two-RBI hit to left, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.

Betts’ hit snapped a playoff dry spell and revived the defending champions’ aspirations of becoming the initial back-to-back championship victors since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Pitching Battle

Kevin Gausman had been dominant to that stage, fanning six of the first seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out 8 through three innings, matching a Fall Classic mark, but the third-inning barrage proved costly. The Toronto ace finished with 8 Ks over six innings, yielding three runs on three safeties and two walks.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under stress. The righty outdueled his counterpart for the second occasion in a week, allowing one run on five hits over six frames with six Ks. He boosted his record to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him came on George Springer two-out single in the third, driving in Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. That single offered a brief spark in his comeback to the lineup after sitting out a pair of contests with an side strain.

Relief Effort

From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. Rookie Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh inning, and another rookie Rōki Sasaki worked into the ninth before plunking Alejandro Kirk to start the inning. Addison Barger then hit a double that became wedged under the outfield wall, obliging runners to hold at second and third base.

Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starting pitcher, came on in relief and got a popout before Giménez hit a line drive to left. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and threw to second to retire the runner, sealing the victory and giving Glasnow his first-ever save.

Next Up: Seventh Game

The best-of-seven now boils down to one game. Max Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, becoming the only living pitcher to pitch in more than one World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The veteran signed a single-season contract to pursue one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this postseason.

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

Tyler Davis
Tyler Davis

Elara is a wellness expert and writer passionate about holistic health and luxury retreats, sharing insights to inspire balanced living.