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

The championship series is headed to a final seventh game after the Dodgers kept their repeat dreams alive on Friday with a 3–1 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders ended Toronto’s late-game comeback with a thrilling final double play, stunning a home crowd that had come ready to celebrate the city’s championship in over three decades.

Sixth Game Recap

Los Angeles generated all of their scoring in the third inning. With two away, Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to bring home Edman. Freddie Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Mookie Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to the opposite field, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

That key hit broke a playoff dry spell and rekindled the title holders' hopes of becoming the first repeat World Series victors since the Yankees captured three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Mound Duel

Gausman had been dominant to that point, striking out half a dozen of the first seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out 8 through three innings, tying a Fall Classic record, but the third-frame rally proved costly. The Blue Jays' star finished with eight strikeouts over six frames, yielding three runs on three hits and two free passes.

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

The lone score against him came on Springer’s two-out single in the third inning, driving in Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. That single provided a momentary lift in his return to the starting nine after missing two games with an side strain.

Relief Heroics

After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. First-year pitcher Justin Wrobleski escaped a jam in the seventh, and another rookie Sasaki worked into the ninth before plunking Alejandro Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that got stuck under the left-center-field fence, obliging runners to hold at second and third.

Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers' Game 3 starter, entered in relief and induced a popout before Giménez lined to left. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and fired to second base to retire the runner, clinching the win and earning Glasnow his first-ever successful save.

Next Up: Game 7

The best-of-seven now comes down to a single contest. Scherzer will take the mound for the Blue Jays, making him the only living pitcher to start multiple World Series Game 7s after accomplishing that in 2019 with Washington. The 40-year-old signed a single-season contract to pursue another championship and has been a outspoken presence throughout this playoff run.

The Los Angeles squad, looking to become the sport's first back-to-back champions in almost 25 years, are expected to lean on their two-way star for a short outing.