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

This year's championship series is going to a decisive Game 7 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 ended Toronto’s late-game comeback with a thrilling game-ending twin killing, stunning a home audience that had arrived prepared to cheer the team's championship in 32 years.

Game 6 Summary

The Dodgers generated all of their scoring in the third frame. With two outs, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Will Smith doubled to left field to bring home Tommy Edman. Freddie Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to left, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

That key hit broke a postseason slump and revived the title holders' hopes of becoming the first repeat championship victors since the Yankees won three consecutive from 1998 through 2000.

Pitching Duel

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that stage, striking out six of the first seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out 8 through three frames, tying a World Series mark, but the third-inning barrage proved costly. The Blue Jays' star finished with eight strikeouts over six innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two free passes.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under pressure. The righty outpitched Gausman for the second time in a week, giving up one run on five base hits over six innings with six Ks. He boosted his record to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him came on Springer’s two-out single in the third, scoring Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. That single provided a brief spark in his return to the lineup after missing a pair of contests with an oblique injury.

Bullpen Heroics

After that, the Los Angeles relievers carried the load. First-year pitcher Justin Wrobleski escaped a tight spot in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Sasaki pitched into the ninth before plunking Alejandro Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger then hit a double that got stuck under the outfield wall, obliging base runners to hold at second and third.

Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers' Game 3 starting pitcher, entered in relief and got a pop fly before Andrés Giménez lined to left field. Hernández caught the ball and threw to second base to double off the runner, sealing the victory and giving Glasnow his first-ever successful save.

Looking Ahead: Seventh Game

The series now boils down to one game. Scherzer will start for Toronto, becoming the sole active hurler to start multiple World Series Game 7s after accomplishing that in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The 40-year-old inked a single-season contract to chase another championship and has been a vocal leader throughout this playoff run.

The Los Angeles squad, aiming to become the sport's first back-to-back champions in almost 25 years, are expected to rely on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.

Katherine Mcintosh
Katherine Mcintosh

Elara is a seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in international reporting and storytelling.