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

The World Series is going to a decisive Game 7 after the Dodgers kept their title defense dreams intact Friday night with a three to one victory over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a dramatic final twin killing, silencing a Rogers Centre crowd that had come ready to celebrate the city’s championship in over three decades.

Sixth Game Summary

Los Angeles generated all of their offense in the third inning. With two outs, Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked before Will Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to bring home Edman. Freddie Freeman earned a base on balls to load the bases, and Mookie Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to left, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.

That key hit broke a postseason slump and revived the defending champions’ aspirations of becoming the first repeat championship victors since the New York Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 to 2000.

Mound Duel

Kevin Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that stage, fanning half a dozen of the initial seven batters he faced. He struck out eight through three frames, tying a World Series mark, but the third-frame rally proved decisive. The Toronto ace ended with eight strikeouts over six frames, yielding three earned runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yamamoto, in contrast, was solid again under stress. The righty outdueled Gausman for the second time in a week, giving up one run on five base hits over six frames with six Ks. He improved to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him came on Springer’s two-out base hit in the third, driving in Addison Barger, who had doubled earlier in the inning. Springer’s hit offered a brief spark in his return to the starting nine after missing two games with an side strain.

Bullpen Heroics

From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. First-year pitcher Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before hitting Kirk to open the frame. Barger then hit a double that became wedged under the outfield wall, forcing runners to stay at second and third base.

Glasnow, Los Angeles’ Game 3 starting pitcher, came on in relief and induced a popout before Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Hernández caught the ball and fired to second base to retire Barger, clinching the victory and giving the pitcher his first career successful save.

Looking Ahead: Seventh Game

The series now comes down to one game. Max Scherzer will take the mound for the Blue Jays, becoming the sole active hurler to start multiple seventh games of the World Series after doing so in 2019 with the Nationals. The veteran signed a one-year deal to chase another championship and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.

The Dodgers, looking to become the sport's initial repeat champions in nearly a quarter-century, are projected to rely on their two-way star for a brief appearance.