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The World Series is going to a decisive seventh game after the Dodgers kept alive their title defense dreams alive Friday night with a 3–1 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a thrilling game-ending twin killing, stunning a home crowd that had come ready to celebrate the city’s championship in over three decades.

Sixth Game Recap

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

Betts’ hit broke a postseason slump and rekindled the defending champions’ aspirations of being the initial back-to-back World Series winners since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.

Mound Duel

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, fanning half a dozen of the initial seven batters he confronted. He struck out 8 through three innings, tying a Fall Classic mark, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star ended with 8 Ks over six frames, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two free passes.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was solid again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outdueled Gausman for the second time in a week, giving up one run on five base hits over six frames with six strikeouts. He boosted his record to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him came on Springer’s two-out single in the third, driving in Addison Barger, who had hit a double earlier in the inning. That single offered a momentary lift in his comeback to the starting nine after sitting out two games with an oblique injury.

Bullpen Effort

After that, the Los Angeles relievers took over. Rookie Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh, and another rookie Rōki Sasaki pitched into the ninth before hitting Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that got stuck under the outfield wall, forcing base runners to hold at second and third.

Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starter, came on in a relief role and induced a popout before Giménez lined to left. Enrique Hernández made the catch and threw to second base to retire Barger, clinching the victory and earning the pitcher his first-ever successful save.

Next Up: Game 7

The best-of-seven now boils down to one game. Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, making him the sole active hurler to pitch in multiple seventh games of the World Series after accomplishing that in the 2019 season with Washington. The veteran inked a single-season contract to pursue another championship and has been a outspoken presence throughout this playoff run.

The Los Angeles squad, looking to become the sport's initial repeat champions in nearly a quarter-century, are expected to rely on their two-way star for a brief appearance.