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The World Series is going to a final seventh game following the Los Angeles Dodgers kept alive their title defense hopes alive Friday night with a three to one victory over the Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions halted Toronto’s ninth-inning rally with a thrilling game-ending twin killing, stunning a home crowd that had arrived prepared to celebrate the team's first title in over three decades.

Game 6 Recap

The Dodgers produced all of their offense in the third frame. With two outs, Ohtani was intentionally walked before Smith doubled to left to bring home Tommy Edman. Freddie Freeman drew a walk to fill the bases, and Betts came through with a two-RBI hit to the opposite field, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 advantage.

Betts’ hit broke a playoff dry spell and revived the defending champions’ hopes of becoming the initial back-to-back World Series winners since the Yankees won three consecutive from 1998 to 2000.

Pitching Duel

Kevin Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that point, fanning half a dozen of the initial seven Dodgers he confronted. He fanned 8 through three innings, matching a Fall Classic record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Toronto ace ended with eight strikeouts over six innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, was steady again under pressure. The 27-year-old right-hander outpitched Gausman for the second occasion in a week, giving up one run on five base hits over six frames with six strikeouts. He boosted his record to 4–1 this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The only run against him came on George Springer two-out single in the third, driving in Barger, who had doubled earlier in the inning. Springer’s hit offered a brief spark in his return to the lineup after missing two games with an side strain.

Relief Effort

After that, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over. Rookie Wrobleski escaped a tight spot in the seventh, and another rookie Rōki Sasaki pitched into the ninth before hitting Kirk to open the frame. Addison Barger followed with a two-base hit that got stuck under the outfield wall, forcing runners to hold at second and third base.

Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starter, entered in relief and induced a pop fly before Andrés Giménez hit a line drive to left. Enrique Hernández made the catch and threw to second to retire Barger, clinching the victory and giving the pitcher his first career save.

Looking Ahead: Seventh Game

The series now comes down to a single contest. Max Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, becoming the only living pitcher to pitch in multiple World Series Game 7s after doing so in 2019 with Washington. The veteran inked a single-season contract to chase one more title and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.

The Los Angeles squad, aiming to become baseball’s initial repeat title winners in almost 25 years, are expected to lean on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.