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

The defending champions halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a thrilling game-ending double play, silencing a Rogers Centre crowd that had arrived prepared to cheer the team's championship in 32 years.

Game 6 Recap

Los Angeles generated all of their offense in the third frame. With two away, Shohei Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith hit a two-bagger to left field to score Edman. Freddie Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Mookie Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to left, handing the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.

That key hit broke a playoff dry spell and rekindled the title holders' hopes of becoming the first repeat World Series victors since the New York Yankees captured three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Pitching Duel

Gausman had been dominant to that stage, fanning half a dozen of the initial seven batters he confronted. He struck out 8 through three frames, tying a World Series record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Toronto ace finished with eight strikeouts over six innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under stress. The righty outdueled his counterpart for the second occasion in a seven days, allowing one run on five hits over six frames with six Ks. He improved to four wins and one loss this postseason with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him came on George Springer two-out single in the third inning, driving in Addison Barger, who had doubled earlier in the inning. That single provided a brief spark in his return to the starting nine after missing two games with an oblique injury.

Relief Heroics

After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. Rookie Justin Wrobleski escaped a tight spot in the seventh inning, and fellow rookie Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before plunking Alejandro Kirk to start the frame. Barger followed with a double that became wedged under the outfield wall, forcing base runners to stay at second and third.

Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starting pitcher, came on in a relief role and got a popout before Andrés Giménez lined to left. Hernández made the catch and fired to second to retire the runner, clinching the victory and giving the pitcher his first-ever successful save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now boils down to a single contest. Scherzer will start for Toronto, becoming the only living pitcher to pitch in multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in the 2019 season with the Nationals. The 40-year-old inked a single-season contract to pursue one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this playoff run.

The Dodgers, aiming to become baseball’s initial repeat champions in nearly a quarter-century, are expected to rely on their two-way star for a brief appearance.