Los Angeles Dodgers Hold On in Toronto to Force Decisive Game 7 in World Series
The World Series is headed to a final seventh game after the Dodgers kept their title defense dreams alive on Friday with a three to one win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.
The defending champions halted Torontoâs ninth-inning rally with a dramatic game-ending twin killing, silencing a home audience that had come ready to cheer the team's championship in 32 years.
Sixth Game Summary
The Dodgers generated all of their scoring in the third frame. With two outs, Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked before Smith doubled to left to bring home Tommy Edman. Freddie Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Mookie Betts delivered with a two-RBI hit to left, handing the Dodgers a three-run lead.
Bettsâ hit broke a postseason slump and rekindled the defending championsâ hopes of becoming the first repeat championship victors since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.
Mound Battle
Gausman had been dominant to that stage, striking out half a dozen of the initial seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out eight through three frames, tying a World Series mark, but the third-frame rally proved decisive. The Toronto ace finished with 8 Ks over six frames, allowing three earned runs on three safeties and two free passes.
Yamamoto, in contrast, was solid again under pressure. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched Gausman for the second occasion in a seven days, giving up one run on five hits over six frames with six Ks. He improved to 4â1 this postseason with a 1.56 ERA.
The lone score against him came on Springerâs two-out single in the third inning, driving in Addison Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springerâs hit offered a brief spark in his return to the lineup after missing two games with an side strain.
Bullpen Heroics
From there, the Los Angeles relievers took over. Rookie Justin Wrobleski escaped a jam in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie RĹki Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before hitting Kirk to start the inning. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that became wedged under the outfield wall, forcing base runners to stay at second and third base.
Glasnow, the Dodgers' Game 3 starter, came on in a relief role and induced a pop fly before AndrĂŠs GimĂŠnez lined to left field. Enrique HernĂĄndez caught the ball and fired to second to double off Barger, clinching the victory and giving the pitcher his first-ever successful save.
Next Up: Seventh Game
The best-of-seven now comes down to one game. Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, becoming the only living pitcher to start more than one World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The veteran signed a one-year deal to pursue one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this postseason.
The Los Angeles squad, aiming to become the sport's first back-to-back champions in almost 25 years, are expected to rely on Shohei Ohtani for a short outing.