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The World Series is headed to a decisive seventh game after the Dodgers kept alive their title defense dreams intact Friday night with a three to one win over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

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

Game 6 Summary

The Dodgers 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 to score Edman. Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Mookie Betts came through with a two-run single to the opposite field, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

That key hit broke a postseason slump and rekindled the defending champions’ aspirations of becoming the first repeat World Series victors since the Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 to 2000.

Mound Battle

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, fanning six of the first seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out 8 through three frames, matching a Fall Classic mark, but the third-frame rally proved costly. The Blue Jays' star finished with eight strikeouts over six innings, allowing three earned runs on three safeties and two free passes.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in contrast, was steady again under pressure. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched his counterpart for the second occasion in a seven days, giving up one run on five hits over six frames with six strikeouts. He boosted his record to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him resulted from Springer’s two-out single in the third, driving in Barger, who had doubled previously in the frame. Springer’s hit provided a brief spark in his comeback to the starting nine after sitting out a pair of contests with an oblique injury.

Bullpen Effort

From there, the Los Angeles relievers took over. First-year pitcher Wrobleski escaped a jam in the seventh, and fellow rookie Rōki Sasaki pitched into the ninth inning before plunking Kirk to start the inning. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that became wedged under the outfield wall, forcing runners to hold at second and third base.

Glasnow, Los Angeles’ third game starter, came on in a relief role and got a popout before Giménez hit a line drive to left. Hernández caught the ball and threw to second to retire the runner, sealing the victory and giving Glasnow his first career save.

Next Up: Seventh Game

The best-of-seven now comes down to a single contest. Scherzer will take the mound for Toronto, making him the only living pitcher to start multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in 2019 with Washington. The 40-year-old inked a one-year deal to chase one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this playoff run.

The Dodgers, aiming to be the sport's initial repeat title winners in nearly a quarter-century, are projected to rely on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.