Los Angeles Dodgers Hold On in Canada 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 dreams alive on Friday with a 3–1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a thrilling final twin killing, stunning a Rogers Centre crowd that had come ready to cheer the team's championship in over three decades.

Game 6 Summary

Los Angeles produced all of their scoring in the third frame. With two away, Ohtani was intentionally walked before Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to bring home Tommy Edman. Freddie Freeman earned a base on balls to fill the bases, and Mookie Betts came through with a two-run single to left, handing the Dodgers a three-run lead.

Betts’ hit broke a playoff dry spell and rekindled the title holders' aspirations of being the initial back-to-back championship winners since the New York Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 through 2000.

Pitching Battle

Gausman had been dominant to that stage, striking out half a dozen of the first seven batters he confronted. He fanned 8 through three innings, matching a Fall Classic record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star ended with 8 Ks over six innings, yielding three runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was solid again under stress. The righty outdueled Gausman for the second time in a seven days, giving up one run on five base hits over six frames with six strikeouts. He boosted his record to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

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

Bullpen Heroics

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

Glasnow, Los Angeles’ Game 3 starting pitcher, came on in a relief role and induced a pop fly before Giménez hit a line drive to left. Hernández made the catch and threw to second base to double off Barger, sealing the win and earning Glasnow his first career save.

Looking Ahead: Seventh Game

The series now comes down to a single contest. Scherzer will start for Toronto, making him the sole active hurler to start multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The 40-year-old 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 become the sport's first back-to-back champions in nearly a quarter-century, are projected to lean on their two-way star for a short outing.

Henry Cooper
Henry Cooper

A seasoned tech writer and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup growth strategies.