TORONTO — The Los Angeles Dodgers refused to let their title defense end quietly. On Friday night at Rogers Centre, the reigning World Series champions battled past the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1, forcing a decisive Game 7 before a stunned crowd of 44,710.
The Blue Jays came within inches of ending their 32-year championship drought and winning their first World Series since 1993. Instead, their celebration was put on hold for at least one more night as the Dodgers fought to keep their repeat hopes alive.
Dodgers’ drama unfolds in the final frame
Toronto loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, creating a tense finish and testing the Dodgers’ bullpen. The energy inside Rogers Centre was electric as Addison Barger stepped to the plate.
Barger smashed a double that seemed destined to tie the game, but the baseball lodged under the outfield wall padding. Dodgers center fielder Justin Dean quickly signaled for a dead ball. The play froze Myles Straw at third base, preventing the tying run from scoring.
Manager Dave Roberts called on Tyler Glasnow for the most critical moment of the Dodgers’ season. Glasnow threw only three pitches to end Toronto’s rally.
Ernie Clement popped out on the first pitch. Andres Gimenez lined the second pitch to left, where Kiké Hernández made a diving catch and fired to second base. Barger, already off the bag expecting the ball to drop, was tagged out when Miguel Rojas made the clean catch-and-throw double play, silencing the home crowd.
“This is do or die,” Roberts said afterward. “You’ve got to leave it all out there and pick up the pieces.”
Yamamoto continues postseason excellence
Yoshinobu Yamamoto once again rose to the occasion when the Dodgers needed him most. The Japanese right-hander limited Toronto to one run over six innings, striking out six.
Yamamoto has now won three straight postseason starts, allowing only a single run in each. His playoff record improved to 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA.
Kevin Gausman matched him early, setting a World Series record with eight strikeouts through the first three innings. The Toronto starter retired Los Angeles in order in five of six innings, showing command and composure.
Betts breaks through in crucial third inning
Mookie Betts, struggling through the first five games with a .130 batting average and no RBIs, finally found his swing in the third inning.
Will Smith doubled home the first run of the game. Freddie Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts followed with a two-run single to left field, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. The hit broke Betts’ 3-for-24 slump and lifted a huge burden off his shoulders.
“I know that’s a big weight off his shoulders,” Roberts said.
The three-run burst was the first time in this World Series that Los Angeles scored more than two runs in an inning. Before Friday, they had managed only four total runs in their previous 29 innings.
Springer battles through injury
George Springer returned to the Blue Jays’ lineup after missing two games with a side injury suffered in Game 3. Despite obvious discomfort after every swing, he refused to stay out of the lineup.
Springer lined a 109.8 mph RBI single off Yamamoto in the third inning, bringing home Toronto’s lone run. He later singled again in the eighth off Roki Sasaki, showing the kind of toughness that has made him a respected postseason performer.
His effort under pain showed the Blue Jays’ determination to bring a title back to Toronto.
Bullpen survives ninth-inning scare
Roberts faced a big decision after Yamamoto hit 96 pitches through six innings. Justin Wrobleski handled the seventh inning, escaping a jam after giving up a double. Sasaki, making only his second appearance in two weeks, worked through danger in the eighth after allowing a single to Springer and walking Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The ninth brought more drama. Sasaki hit Alejandro Kirk on an 0-2 pitch, then gave up Barger’s double that became wedged beneath the wall. The dead-ball call kept the tying run at third, setting up Glasnow’s short but clutch performance to seal the win.
Everything on the line Saturday night
Game 7 is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre. FOX will broadcast the game in the United States, and Sportsnet will carry it in Canada.
The Dodgers are seeking to become the first back-to-back World Series champions in 25 years. The last club to do so was the 1998–2000 Yankees, who won three straight titles.
Toronto, on the other hand, is chasing its first championship since its back-to-back wins in 1992 and 1993.
Veteran right-hander Max Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays. It will be his second career Game 7 start, following his 2019 appearance for Washington. Rookie Trey Yesavage, who set a World Series rookie record with 12 strikeouts in Game 5, and former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber are expected to be available in relief.
Los Angeles faces questions about Shohei Ohtani’s availability on three days’ rest. Roberts said starting Ohtani is a “possibility,” which would let him hit without taking the field. Glasnow, having thrown only three pitches in Game 6, remains an option, and Blake Snell could pitch on two days’ rest.
“I just don’t feel too much difference,” Yamamoto said when asked about pitching again. Roberts, however, dismissed that idea, saying the team will stay cautious with him. “I have to just get myself ready, and then only one thing we have to do is just win,” Yamamoto added.
The Dodgers became the first defending champions to return to the Fall Classic since the 2009 Phillies. They now aim to join the Yankees as the only franchise this century to capture consecutive titles.
Saturday’s Game 7 promises the kind of finale baseball fans dream about. Both clubs are expected to use every arm, every bat, and every ounce of energy in pursuit of the World Series trophy.
World Series Game 7: When and how to watch
Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto
Date: Saturday, Nov. 1
Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
How to watch: FOX (USA), Sportsnet (Canada)
Streaming: FOX Sports app, FOX One app, Sling, Fubo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial)
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
