The World Series concluded with a thrilling Game 7 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, a game filled with dramatic swings and nail-biting tension that ended with the Dodgers securing a 5-4 victory in extra innings. The win marks their second consecutive World Series title, a feat last achieved by the New York Yankees in 1999 and 2000.
The Blue Jays, playing on their home field, started strong. Bo Bichette, despite nursing a knee injury, ignited the crowd with a three-run home run off Dodgers’ star pitcher Shohei Ohtani, giving Toronto an early lead. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as fans celebrated what they hoped would be a series-clinching moment.
However, the Dodgers, known for their resilience, began to chip away at the Blue Jays’ advantage. Teoscar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, bringing Will Smith home, and Tommy Edman followed suit in the sixth, scoring Mookie Betts. Despite these efforts, the Blue Jays managed to extend their lead to 4-2 when Andres Gimenez doubled, driving in Ernie Clement.
The late innings were where the drama truly unfolded. In the eighth, Max Muncy hit a solo home run, narrowing the gap to a single run. This prompted the Blue Jays to bring in their closer, Jeff Hoffman, earlier than planned. Miguel Rojas, who had been struggling at the plate, then stepped up and delivered a game-tying home run off Hoffman, sending the game into a frenzy.
The tension escalated in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, the Blue Jays threatened to score, loading the bases against Dodgers’ pitcher Blake Snell. In a strategic move, the Dodgers brought in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Game 6 starter, to try and escape the jam. Yamamoto induced a ground ball to Rojas, who made a heads-up play to force the out at home. Then, with two outs, Ernie Clement hit a deep fly ball to left field. A collision between left fielder Enrique Hernandez and center fielder Andy Pages resulted in Pages making the catch, saving a potential game-winning hit and sending the game into extra innings.
The tenth inning saw both teams squander opportunities to score, with both pitchers managing to escape bases-loaded situations unscathed.
Finally, in the top of the 11th inning, Will Smith broke the tie with a go-ahead home run off Blue Jays’ reliever Shane Bieber. The Dodgers then held on in the bottom of the inning, with Yamamoto securing the final outs, including a game-ending double play, to seal the victory.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named the World Series MVP for his stellar performance throughout the series, including his clutch relief appearance in the final game.
The game was not without its controversies. In the fourth inning, Dodgers reliever Justin Wrobleski hit Andres Gimenez, leading to both benches clearing and a warning being issued to both teams. This incident highlighted the high stakes and intense emotions surrounding the game.
The Dodgers’ victory was a testament to their perseverance and ability to perform under pressure. The Blue Jays, despite the loss, showcased their talent and determination, making for a memorable and hard-fought series.
