Los Angeles Dodgers Survive in Toronto to Set Up Decisive Game 7 in Fall Classic

The World Series is going to a decisive Game 7 following the Los Angeles Dodgers kept their repeat dreams alive on Friday with a three to one victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a thrilling final twin killing, silencing a Rogers Centre crowd that had come ready to celebrate the city’s championship in 32 years.

Game 6 Recap

The Dodgers generated all of their scoring in the third inning. With two away, Ohtani was purposely passed before Will Smith doubled to left to bring home Tommy Edman. Freeman earned a base on balls to fill the bases, and Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to the opposite field, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

That key hit snapped a playoff dry spell and revived the title holders' aspirations of becoming the initial back-to-back championship victors since the New York Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 to 2000.

Pitching Duel

Gausman had been dominant to that point, striking out half a dozen of the first seven Dodgers he faced. He fanned eight through three innings, matching a World Series record, but the third-frame rally proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star finished with 8 Ks over six frames, allowing three runs on three hits and two free passes.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, meanwhile, was solid again under stress. The righty outpitched his counterpart for the second occasion in a week, allowing one run on five hits over six innings with six Ks. He improved to four wins and one loss this postseason with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him came on George Springer two-out single in the third, scoring Addison Barger, who had doubled earlier in the inning. That single offered a momentary lift in his return to the lineup after sitting out a pair of contests with an oblique injury.

Bullpen Heroics

After that, the Los Angeles relievers took over. Rookie Wrobleski got out of a jam in the seventh, and fellow rookie Sasaki pitched into the ninth before plunking Kirk to open the inning. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that got stuck under the outfield wall, obliging base runners to stay at second and third.

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

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now comes down to one game. Scherzer will take the mound for Toronto, making him the only living pitcher to pitch in more than one World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with Washington. The veteran signed a one-year deal to chase one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.

The Dodgers, aiming to become the sport's first back-to-back title winners in nearly a quarter-century, are expected to rely on their two-way star for a brief appearance.