Dodgers Force Decisive Game 7 in World Series After 3-1 Victory Over Blue Jays
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from a championship title,after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday night,forcing a decisive Game 7 in the World Series. A two-run single from Mookie Betts in the third inning proved to be the difference, while pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a solid performance despite not replicating his dominant Game 2 outing.
Yamamoto Battles Through Six Innings
Yamamoto secured his second victory against Toronto in as many weeks, though he wasn’t as dominant as his four-hit complete game in Game 2. The 27-year-old right-hander pitched six innings, allowing just one run on five hits, including an RBI single from George Springer, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous game.
The Dodgers added an insurance run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Freddie Freeman. Toronto threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with one out, but Dodgers closer Evan Phillips, inducing a pop-up from Ernie Clement for the first out. A game-ending double play, turned by Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas, sealed the victory.
“I was playing a little more shallow than the card wanted me to,” Hernández explained. “But given the situation, realy fast guy at second base, I was like, you know what? I’m going to play really, really shallow… somehow I was able to hear that the bat broke even with that crowd. The crazy thing is I had no idea where the ball was because it was in the lights the whole time.”
the double play, a 7-4 play according to the Elias Sports Bureau, was a remarkable feat. Hernández made a diving catch in shallow left-center and fired a quick throw to second, where Rojas completed the double play, tagging Addison Barger for the final out.
Scherzer to start Game 7 for Blue Jays
The Blue Jays will turn to veteran pitcher Max Scherzer for Game 7 on Saturday night.The three-time Cy Young Award winner previously started a winner-take-all Game 7 in 2019, though he received a no-decision when the Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros.
“These guys are really good at kind of just turning the page,” Toronto manager John Schneider said.”That will take a while to kind of unpack. That’s a wild ending. I love the way we played.”
The Dodgers are considering both Glasnow and two-way star Shohei Ohtani as potential starters, with Roberts indicating ohtani could pitch anywhere from two to four innings. Los Angeles is aiming for their third title in six seasons and a potential dynasty.
Betts Breaks Out, Dodgers Stay Alive
betts, who had been struggling throughout the series, delivered a crucial two-run single in the third inning, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.Prior to Friday’s game, Betts was just 3 for 23 in the series and had been moved down in the batting order. The hit ended an 0-for-13 stretch with the bases loaded for the Dodgers dating back to the Division Series.
“Honestly,man,I know it hasn’t been great for me,” Betts said. “But this year really hasn’t been great. I just want to be there to help the boys. I came up in a big spot…. I just was able to find a way to lock in.”
Toronto scored their lone run in the third inning when Barger doubled and later scored on a two-out single by Springer. The Blue Jays, seeking their first World Series title as 1993, wore their powder blue uniforms at home for the first time since September.
The Dodgers’ victory keeps their championship aspirations alive, setting the stage for a thrilling Game 7 showdown on Saturday.”Man, we live for Game 7, so here we go,” Roberts stated.
