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The championship series is going to a decisive Game 7 following the Los Angeles Dodgers kept alive their title defense hopes alive on Friday with a three to one victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions ended Toronto’s late-game comeback with a thrilling game-ending twin killing, silencing a home crowd that had come ready to cheer the city’s championship in over three decades.

Sixth Game Recap

The Dodgers generated all of their scoring in the third frame. With two away, Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith doubled to left field to score Tommy Edman. Freddie Freeman earned a base on balls to fill the bases, and Betts delivered with a two-RBI hit to the opposite field, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 lead.

That key hit broke a postseason slump and revived the title holders' hopes of becoming the first repeat World Series victors since the New York Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 through 2000.

Mound Battle

Kevin Gausman had been dominant to that point, striking out six of the first seven batters he confronted. He struck out 8 through three innings, tying a World Series record, but the third-inning barrage proved costly. The Toronto ace finished with 8 Ks over six innings, allowing three runs on three safeties and two walks.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was solid again under pressure. The righty outpitched his counterpart for the second occasion in a week, giving up one run on five hits over six frames with six Ks. He boosted his record to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him resulted from George Springer two-out base hit in the third, scoring Addison Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. Springer’s hit offered a momentary lift in his comeback to the starting nine after missing two games with an oblique injury.

Relief Effort

From there, the Los Angeles relievers carried the load. Rookie Justin Wrobleski got out of a jam in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Sasaki worked into the ninth before plunking Kirk to open the inning. Barger followed with a two-base hit that became wedged under the outfield wall, forcing runners to hold at second and third.

Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starter, entered in relief and got a popout before Giménez lined to left field. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and fired to second base to double off the runner, sealing the win and giving Glasnow his first-ever successful save.

Looking Ahead: Seventh Game

The series now boils down to one game. Max Scherzer will take the mound for the Blue Jays, becoming the only living pitcher to start multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with Washington. The veteran signed a one-year deal to pursue one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this playoff run.

The Los Angeles squad, aiming to become baseball’s first back-to-back champions in nearly a quarter-century, are expected to rely on their two-way star for a brief appearance.