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This year's World Series is going to a decisive Game 7 after the Dodgers kept alive their repeat dreams alive on Friday with a 3–1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions halted Toronto’s late-game comeback with a thrilling final twin killing, stunning a home crowd that had arrived prepared to cheer the city’s first title in over three decades.

Sixth Game Summary

Los Angeles generated all of their scoring in the third inning. With two outs, Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked before Smith doubled to left to bring home Tommy Edman. Freeman earned a base on balls to fill the bases, and Betts came through with a two-run single to left, handing the Dodgers a 3–0 lead.

Betts’ hit broke a playoff dry spell and rekindled the defending champions’ aspirations of becoming the initial back-to-back championship victors since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 through 2000.

Mound Duel

Kevin Gausman had been dominant to that point, striking out half a dozen of the first seven Dodgers he confronted. He struck out 8 through three innings, matching a Fall Classic record, but the third-inning barrage proved costly. The Toronto ace ended with 8 Ks over six innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, meanwhile, was solid again under stress. The righty outpitched his counterpart for the second occasion in a week, allowing one run on five base 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 lone score against him resulted from George Springer two-out base hit in the third, driving in Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. That single provided a momentary lift in his comeback to the starting nine after sitting out two games with an oblique injury.

Bullpen Effort

After that, the Los Angeles relievers took over. Rookie Wrobleski got out of a tight spot in the seventh, and another rookie Sasaki worked into the ninth inning before plunking Alejandro Kirk to start the inning. Addison Barger followed with a double that got stuck under the outfield wall, obliging runners to hold at second and third.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' Game 3 starter, came on in a relief role and got a popout before Giménez lined to left. Enrique Hernández caught the ball and fired to second base to retire Barger, sealing the victory and giving Glasnow his first career save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now comes down to a single contest. Max Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, making him the sole active hurler to start more than one World Series Game 7s after accomplishing that in 2019 with Washington. The 40-year-old inked a single-season contract to pursue one more title and has been a outspoken presence throughout this postseason.

The Los Angeles squad, looking to become the sport's initial repeat title winners in nearly a quarter-century, are expected to rely on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.