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The championship series is going to a final seventh game after the Los Angeles Dodgers kept alive their title defense dreams alive Friday night with a 3–1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The reigning title holders halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a thrilling game-ending double play, stunning a home crowd that had come ready to celebrate the team's championship in 32 years.

Sixth Game Recap

Los Angeles generated all of their scoring in the third frame. With two away, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Will Smith hit a two-bagger to left to score Edman. Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Betts delivered with a two-run single to the opposite field, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

That key hit snapped a postseason slump and revived the title holders' aspirations of being the initial back-to-back World Series victors since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.

Mound Battle

Gausman had been dominant to that stage, striking out six of the initial seven Dodgers he confronted. He fanned 8 through three frames, matching a Fall Classic mark, but the third-inning barrage proved costly. The Blue Jays' star ended with 8 Ks over six frames, allowing three runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yamamoto, in contrast, was solid again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outdueled Gausman for the second occasion in a seven days, allowing a single run on five hits over six frames with six strikeouts. He improved to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him resulted from George Springer two-out base hit in the third, driving in Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. Springer’s hit offered a brief spark in his return to the lineup after sitting out two games with an side strain.

Relief Effort

From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen carried the load. First-year pitcher Justin Wrobleski got out of a jam in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before plunking Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that got stuck under the outfield wall, obliging base runners to stay at second and third base.

Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starting pitcher, came on in relief and induced a popout before Andrés Giménez hit a line drive to left field. Hernández made the catch and fired to second to double off Barger, sealing the victory and giving the pitcher his first career successful save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The series now boils down to one game. Scherzer will take the mound for Toronto, becoming the only living pitcher to pitch in more than one seventh games of the World Series after accomplishing that in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The 40-year-old inked a one-year deal to chase another championship and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.

The Dodgers, aiming to be the sport's first back-to-back champions in almost 25 years, are expected to lean on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.