Los Angeles Dodgers Hold On in Toronto to Force Winner-Take-All Game 7 in World Series

This year's World Series is going to a final seventh game after the Dodgers kept their repeat dreams intact on Friday with a three to one victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a thrilling final twin killing, silencing a home crowd that had come ready to celebrate the city’s first title in 32 years.

Sixth Game Summary

Los Angeles produced all of their offense in the third frame. With two outs, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith hit a two-bagger to left to bring home Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts came through with a two-run single to the opposite field, giving the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

Betts’ hit snapped a postseason slump and revived the title holders' hopes of becoming the first repeat championship victors since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.

Mound Battle

Kevin Gausman had been dominant to that stage, fanning half a dozen of the initial seven Dodgers he faced. He struck out 8 through three innings, tying a World Series record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Toronto ace finished with 8 Ks over six innings, allowing three earned runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in contrast, was solid again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outdueled his counterpart for the second occasion in a week, giving up one run on five hits over six innings with six Ks. He improved to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him resulted from George Springer two-out base hit in the third, driving in Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a brief spark in his return to the starting nine after sitting out two games with an oblique injury.

Bullpen Effort

After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. Rookie Wrobleski got out of a jam in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Rōki Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before plunking Alejandro Kirk to open the frame. Barger followed with a double that got stuck under the left-center-field fence, forcing runners to stay at second and third base.

Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starter, came on in a relief role and induced a pop fly before Giménez hit a line drive to left. Enrique Hernández made the catch and threw to second base to double off Barger, sealing the victory and giving Glasnow his first-ever successful save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now boils down to one game. Scherzer will take the mound for Toronto, becoming the sole active hurler to start multiple seventh games of the World Series after accomplishing that in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The veteran signed a single-season contract to pursue one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.

The Los Angeles squad, aiming to be the sport's initial repeat champions in almost 25 years, are expected to rely on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.