TORONTO — The 2025 World Series reached new levels of drama Friday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 in a tense, unforgettable Game 6. A chaotic ninth inning ended with a defensive masterpiece that silenced the home crowd and sent the championship to a winner-take-all Game 7.
The Dodgers, facing elimination on foreign turf, displayed the kind of poise and precision that defines baseball’s greatest champions. From early offensive execution to late-inning composure, Los Angeles proved it was not ready to surrender its crown.
Dodgers Take Control Early
The tone was set in the third inning when the Dodgers strung together disciplined at-bats against Toronto starter Kevin Gausman. Tommy Edman’s one-out double sparked the rally. After a walk to Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith lined a sharp double down the left-field line to score the first run. Moments later, Mookie Betts—relocated to the cleanup spot—lashed a two-run single into center field to stretch the lead to 3-0.
The aggressive inning shifted momentum instantly. It quieted the sold-out Rogers Centre, where fans were prepared to celebrate Toronto’s first championship in more than three decades.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts later called it “the inning that gave us life again,” noting the team’s situational hitting and ability to capitalize on Gausman’s elevated fastballs.
Yamamoto Dominates on the Mound
Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has become a revelation in his first MLB postseason, turned in yet another poised performance. Mixing a biting splitter with pinpoint fastballs, Yamamoto worked six innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out six. His command neutralized the Blue Jays’ right-handed power hitters and earned him his second victory of the series.
“He was fearless,” said catcher Will Smith after the game. “Every pitch mattered, and he never flinched. That’s what championship pitching looks like.”
Toronto’s only offensive spark came in the fifth inning when Bo Bichette singled in a run, trimming the deficit to 3-1. But the Dodgers’ bullpen, anchored by Ryan Brasier and Tyler Glasnow, shut the door from there.
The Ninth-Inning Turning Point
If the early innings belonged to the Dodgers’ offense, the final frame belonged to their defense. The Blue Jays opened the ninth with a hit-by-pitch and a ground-rule double, putting the tying runs in scoring position with no outs.
What followed will go down as one of the most remarkable defensive plays in World Series history.
With the crowd on its feet, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined a sinking drive into left field. Enrique Hernández charged forward, caught the ball just above his shoestrings, and instantly fired to second baseman Miguel Rojas, who tagged out the runner straying too far from the base. The sudden double play ended the rally and, effectively, the game.
“I just reacted,” Hernández said afterward. “The ball never left my line of sight, and once I caught it, I knew the throw had to be perfect. You don’t think—you just play.”
The crowd, stunned into silence, watched as Dodgers players spilled out of the dugout in celebration. What looked like a sure scoring opportunity for Toronto had instead turned into one of baseball’s rarest and most electrifying endings.
Dodgers Defy Elimination Again
The Dodgers’ 3-1 win mirrored the grit that defined their championship run in 2024. Down 3-2 in the series, Los Angeles once again found a way to survive. The club has now forced a Game 7 in back-to-back postseason years—an uncommon feat in modern baseball.
For Roberts, the victory was validation of his team’s resilience.
“We’ve been tested all year,” he said in his postgame remarks. “Every time people count us out, this group finds a way. That’s what makes them special.”
Game 7 on the Horizon
The decisive Game 7 will be played Saturday night at Rogers Centre, with first pitch set for 8:07 p.m. Eastern. The Dodgers are expected to start Bobby Miller, while the Blue Jays counter with José Berríos in what promises to be one of the most anticipated finales in recent memory.
If Los Angeles wins, it will mark the franchise’s second consecutive World Series title and sixth since moving to California. A Toronto victory would deliver the team’s first championship since 1993, ending a 32-year drought.
For fans and players alike, the stakes could not be higher.
Game 6 Summary
- Final Score: Dodgers 3, Blue Jays 1
- Winning Pitcher: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-0, 1.88 ERA this series)
- Save: Tyler Glasnow (1)
- Losing Pitcher: Kevin Gausman
- Venue: Rogers Centre, Toronto
- Attendance: 49,556
- Series Status: Tied 3-3; Game 7 scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1
Marcus Vega’s Analysis
By Marcus Vega | Las Vegas Newspaper
The Dodgers’ Game 6 victory was more than a defensive masterclass—it was a display of mental toughness and championship resolve. Yamamoto’s composure set the tone, and Hernández’s instincts in the ninth capped a performance that could define the Dodgers’ modern dynasty.
It’s rare to see a defending champion rally on the road in the face of elimination. But as Roberts’ team proved once again, experience and preparation matter most when the spotlight is brightest. Whether they repeat or fall short, this Dodgers squad has already carved its place in postseason history.
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