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This year's World Series is going to a decisive Game 7 after the Los Angeles Dodgers kept alive their title defense hopes intact on Friday with a 3–1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a thrilling game-ending double play, silencing a home audience that had arrived prepared to cheer the team's championship in 32 years.

Sixth Game Summary

Los Angeles generated all of their offense in the third inning. With two away, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to bring home Edman. Freddie Freeman earned a base on balls to load the bases, and Mookie Betts came through with a two-run single to left, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

Betts’ hit broke a playoff dry spell and rekindled the defending champions’ hopes of becoming the first repeat World Series victors since the New York Yankees captured three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Mound Duel

Gausman had been dominant to that stage, striking out half a dozen of the first seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out eight through three frames, tying a World Series record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Blue Jays' star finished with 8 Ks over six frames, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two free passes.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under pressure. The righty outpitched his counterpart for the second occasion in a week, giving up a single run on five hits over six frames with six Ks. He boosted his record to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him came on George Springer two-out base hit in the third inning, scoring Addison Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit offered a momentary lift in his return to the starting nine after missing a pair of contests with an side strain.

Bullpen Heroics

After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. First-year pitcher Justin Wrobleski escaped a tight spot in the seventh inning, and another rookie Rōki Sasaki worked into the ninth before hitting Alejandro Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger followed with a double that became wedged under the outfield wall, obliging runners to hold at second and third base.

Glasnow, Los Angeles’ Game 3 starter, came on in relief and got a pop fly before Andrés Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and fired to second base to retire the runner, sealing the victory and earning Glasnow his first-ever successful save.

Next Up: Game 7

The best-of-seven now boils down to a single contest. Scherzer will take the mound for Toronto, becoming the sole active hurler to start more than one World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with Washington. The 40-year-old signed a single-season contract to pursue one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this postseason.

The Los Angeles squad, aiming to be baseball’s initial repeat champions in almost 25 years, are expected to lean on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.