🔗 Share this article

The World Series is going to a final seventh game after the Los Angeles Dodgers kept their title defense hopes intact on Friday with a 3–1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a dramatic game-ending twin killing, stunning a home audience that had arrived prepared to cheer the city’s championship in 32 years.

Game 6 Recap

Los Angeles produced all of their offense in the third frame. With two away, Ohtani was intentionally walked before Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to bring home Edman. Freddie Freeman earned a base on balls to fill the bases, and Mookie Betts delivered with a two-RBI hit to left, handing the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.

That key hit broke a playoff dry spell and rekindled the title holders' hopes of being the initial back-to-back World Series victors since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Pitching Battle

Kevin Gausman had been dominant to that stage, striking out six of the initial seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out eight through three innings, matching a World Series mark, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star finished with 8 Ks over six frames, allowing three runs on three hits and two free passes.

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

The only run against him resulted from George Springer two-out single in the third, scoring Addison Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit offered a brief spark in his return to the starting nine after sitting out two games with an side strain.

Relief Heroics

From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. First-year pitcher Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh, and another rookie Sasaki worked into the ninth inning before plunking Kirk to start the frame. Addison Barger then hit a double that got stuck under the outfield wall, obliging runners to hold at second and third base.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starting pitcher, came on in relief and induced a pop fly before Giménez lined to left. Hernández caught the ball and fired to second to retire the runner, sealing the win and earning Glasnow his first-ever successful save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now comes down to one game. Max Scherzer will start for Toronto, making him the sole active hurler to start more than one World Series Game 7s after accomplishing that in 2019 with the Nationals. The veteran inked a single-season contract to pursue another championship and has been a outspoken presence throughout this playoff run.

The Los Angeles squad, aiming to become the sport's initial repeat champions in almost 25 years, are projected to rely on their two-way star for a brief appearance.