LA Dodgers Hold On in Canada to Set Up Winner-Take-All Game 7 in World Series

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

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a dramatic game-ending double play, stunning a Rogers Centre crowd that had come ready to cheer the city’s first title in 32 years.

Game 6 Summary

The Dodgers produced all of their scoring in the third frame. With two away, Ohtani was intentionally walked before Smith hit a two-bagger to left to score Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts delivered with a two-run single to left, handing the Dodgers a 3–0 lead.

Betts’ hit snapped a playoff dry spell and rekindled the title holders' hopes of becoming the first repeat World Series winners since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.

Mound Duel

Kevin Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, striking out six of the initial seven Dodgers he confronted. He fanned eight through three frames, 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 earned runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was solid again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched his counterpart for the second occasion in a seven days, allowing a single run on five base hits over six frames with six Ks. He boosted his record to four wins and one loss this postseason with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him resulted from Springer’s two-out single in the third inning, driving in Barger, who had doubled earlier in the inning. That single provided a brief spark in his comeback to the starting nine after sitting out a pair of contests with an oblique injury.

Relief Effort

From there, the Los Angeles relievers carried the load. Rookie Justin Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh, and another rookie Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before hitting Alejandro Kirk to open the frame. Barger then hit a two-base hit that became wedged under the left-center-field fence, obliging base runners to stay at second and third base.

Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers' Game 3 starter, entered in relief and got a pop fly before Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and threw to second base to retire the runner, sealing the victory and earning the pitcher his first-ever save.

Next Up: Seventh Game

The best-of-seven now comes down to one game. Scherzer will start for Toronto, becoming the only living pitcher to pitch in multiple seventh games of the World Series after accomplishing that in 2019 with the Nationals. The veteran inked a one-year deal to chase another championship and has been a vocal leader throughout this playoff run.

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

James Beck
James Beck

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