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This year's World Series is headed to a final seventh game after the Los Angeles Dodgers kept their title defense hopes intact on Friday with a three to one win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a dramatic game-ending double play, stunning a home crowd that had come ready to celebrate the city’s first title in 32 years.

Sixth Game Summary

Los Angeles produced all of their offense in the third inning. With two away, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith doubled to left field to bring home Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts delivered with a two-run single to left, handing the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.

That key hit snapped a postseason slump and revived the title holders' hopes of being the initial back-to-back World Series winners since the New York Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 through 2000.

Pitching Duel

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, striking out six of the first seven Dodgers he faced. He struck out eight through three frames, tying a World Series record, but the third-inning barrage proved costly. The Blue Jays' star finished with 8 Ks over six frames, yielding three runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yamamoto, in contrast, was solid again under stress. The righty outdueled his counterpart for the second occasion in a seven days, giving up a single run on five base hits over six innings with six Ks. He improved to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him came on George Springer two-out single in the third inning, driving in Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a brief spark in his comeback to the lineup after missing two games with an side strain.

Bullpen Heroics

After that, the Los Angeles relievers carried the load. Rookie Justin Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh, and fellow rookie Sasaki pitched into the ninth before plunking Kirk to start the inning. Addison Barger then hit a two-base hit that became wedged under the left-center-field fence, forcing runners to stay at second and third base.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starting pitcher, came on in a relief role and got a pop fly before Andrés Giménez lined to left field. Hernández caught the ball and fired to second base to retire Barger, sealing the win and earning the pitcher his first-ever successful save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now comes down to a single contest. Max Scherzer will take the mound for Toronto, making him the sole active hurler to pitch in multiple seventh games of the World Series after accomplishing that in 2019 with Washington. The 40-year-old signed a single-season contract to chase another championship and has been a vocal leader throughout this playoff run.

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