🔗 Share this article

This year's championship series is headed to a decisive Game 7 after the Dodgers kept alive their repeat dreams alive Friday night with a 3–1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders ended Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a thrilling final twin killing, silencing a home crowd that had come ready to celebrate the team's first title in 32 years.

Sixth Game Summary

The Dodgers produced all of their offense in the third inning. With two outs, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith hit a two-bagger to left to bring home Edman. Freddie Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Mookie Betts delivered with a two-run single to the opposite field, handing the Dodgers a three-run lead.

Betts’ hit broke a playoff dry spell and rekindled the title holders' aspirations of being the first repeat championship victors since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Mound Battle

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

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was solid again under pressure. The righty outpitched Gausman for the second occasion in a seven days, giving up a single run on five hits over six innings with six strikeouts. 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 Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a brief spark in his return to the lineup after missing two games with an oblique injury.

Relief Heroics

After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. Rookie Wrobleski escaped a tight spot in the seventh inning, and another rookie Rōki Sasaki pitched into the ninth before hitting Kirk to start the inning. Addison Barger then hit a two-base hit that became wedged under the outfield wall, obliging runners to stay at second and third.

Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starter, entered in relief and got a pop fly before Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and fired to second to double off Barger, clinching the victory and earning the pitcher his first career successful save.

Next Up: Seventh Game

The best-of-seven now comes down to one game. Scherzer will start for Toronto, making him the only living pitcher to start more than one seventh games of the World Series after accomplishing that in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The veteran inked a single-season contract to pursue one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this playoff run.

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.