🔗 Share this article

This year's World Series is headed to a decisive Game 7 following the Dodgers kept alive their repeat dreams alive on Friday with a 3–1 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic game-ending double play, stunning a home audience that had arrived prepared to celebrate the city’s championship in 32 years.

Game 6 Summary

The Dodgers produced all of their scoring in the third frame. With two away, Ohtani was intentionally walked before Smith doubled to left field to score Tommy Edman. Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to left, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

That key hit broke a playoff dry spell and revived the defending champions’ aspirations of becoming the initial back-to-back World Series victors since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.

Pitching Battle

Kevin Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, striking out six of the first seven Dodgers he confronted. He fanned eight through three frames, tying a World Series mark, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Toronto ace ended with eight strikeouts over six innings, yielding three runs on three hits and two walks.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under pressure. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched his counterpart for the second time in a week, allowing one run on five hits over six innings with six Ks. He boosted his record to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him resulted from George Springer two-out base hit in the third inning, driving in Addison Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a momentary lift in his comeback to the starting nine after sitting out a pair of contests with an side strain.

Bullpen Heroics

From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. First-year pitcher Justin Wrobleski escaped a jam in the seventh, and fellow rookie Rōki Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before hitting Kirk to start the frame. Addison Barger then hit a double that became wedged under the outfield wall, obliging base runners to hold at second and third base.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' Game 3 starting pitcher, entered in relief and induced a pop fly before Andrés Giménez lined to left. Hernández made the catch and threw to second to retire Barger, sealing the win and earning Glasnow his first career save.

Next Up: Game 7

The best-of-seven now comes down to one game. Max Scherzer will start for Toronto, making him the only living pitcher to start more than one World Series Game 7s after doing so in 2019 with Washington. The veteran signed a single-season contract to pursue another championship and has been a outspoken presence throughout this playoff run.

The Dodgers, aiming to become baseball’s initial repeat champions in almost 25 years, are projected to lean on their two-way star for a short outing.