Quick Read
- Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays in Game 6 with a dramatic double play, ending Toronto’s rally.
- Addison Barger’s baserunning mistake was crucial in the ninth inning.
- Tyler Glasnow secured the save with three pitches; Kiké Hernández’s defense was pivotal.
- Game 7 will feature Max Scherzer for Toronto and Shohei Ohtani for Los Angeles.
- The winner will claim the 2025 World Series—Toronto seeks its first title in 32 years; LA aims for back-to-back championships.
Dodgers’ Defensive Heroics Snatch Victory, Extend World Series
Baseball thrives on moments that linger long after the stadium lights fade. Game 6 of the 2025 World Series delivered one such instant—a wild, nerve-jangling double play that stunned Toronto and sent the Los Angeles Dodgers surging into a winner-take-all Game 7. For fans, it was either heartache or euphoria, depending on the color of their jersey.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth at Rogers Centre, the Toronto Blue Jays seemed poised for a historic comeback. Addison Barger, the young infielder who had become an unlikely postseason hero, blasted a double deep into center field. The ball wedged beneath the outfield wall, momentarily lost to both fielders and the roaring crowd. After a brief review, the umpires ruled it a ground-rule double, placing two Blue Jays in scoring position—second and third, no outs. Suddenly, Toronto’s dream of a 1993-style celebration, reminiscent of Joe Carter’s legendary walk-off, felt within reach.
But the Dodgers, seasoned by years of October drama, were not ready to surrender. Manager Dave Roberts made a pivotal call, pulling rookie closer Roki Sasaki for the veteran Tyler Glasnow—a move that would ripple through the game’s closing moments. Glasnow, known for his composure under pressure, faced Ernie Clement and induced a harmless pop-up for the first out. Andrés Giménez followed with a fly ball to left field, caught by Kiké Hernández. Then came chaos.
With Barger already halfway to third base, Hernández launched a quick, precise throw to Miguel Rojas at second. Rojas corralled the ball just ahead of a sliding Barger, tumbling over as he secured the out. In an instant, the Blue Jays’ rally evaporated, replaced by stunned silence. Dodgers fans erupted; the Rogers Centre crowd could only watch in disbelief as the game ended on a double play—one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory.
Inside the Ninth: How Dodgers Outlasted Toronto’s Rally
The anatomy of the ninth inning reveals the razor-thin margin for error in postseason baseball. Toronto began its final frame with hope: a hit-by-pitch put Alejandro Kirk on base, followed by Barger’s wall-hugging double. But the Dodgers responded with strategic precision. Glasnow, on just three pitches, recorded three outs—a testament to the team’s bullpen depth and readiness.
Kiké Hernández’s defensive intuition proved decisive. “I was playing a little more shallow than the card wanted me to,” Hernández told Fox Sports after the game. “Given the situation, really fast guy at second base, I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to play really, really shallow, and if he hits it over my head, to him.’ 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 ’cause it was in the lights the whole time. Given the situation of the game, World Series on the line, I was like, ‘It’s going to hit me in the face, but I’m not stopping. I’m not pulling up.’”
For Barger, the moment was bittersweet. He had been a spark for Toronto throughout the postseason, slashing .346/.414/.558 coming into Game 6 and scoring the team’s lone run with a leadoff double in the third. But aggressive baserunning in the final inning proved costly—an error he and the Blue Jays will long regret.
Pitching Masterclass Sets Stage for Game 7
If Game 6 was defined by defensive brilliance, it was also shaped by elite pitching. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ $325 million ace, delivered six innings of one-run ball, striking out six and keeping Toronto’s bats at bay. Yamamoto’s postseason line now reads three World Series starts, a 1.27 ERA, and 18 strikeouts in just over 21 innings. His command and poise have justified Los Angeles’ blockbuster investment.
The Blue Jays countered with Kevin Gausman, who was dominant outside of a third-inning stumble. After retiring the first seven batters, Gausman faced trouble with Will Smith’s RBI double and a clutch, bases-loaded single by Mookie Betts—who, despite recent struggles, came through when it mattered most. Betts’ two-run hit marked the first time in the series that Los Angeles scored more than two runs in an inning.
From there, the Dodgers bullpen held steady. Justin Wrobleski, Sasaki, and Glasnow combined for three scoreless innings, preserving the narrow lead and ensuring the series would continue.
Game 7: Legends, Pressure, and a Season on the Line
With the series tied at three games apiece, anticipation for Game 7 could not be higher. Both teams are armed for a pitching duel: Toronto will start veteran Max Scherzer, with Shane Bieber and a deep bullpen ready to follow. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are expected to give the ball to Shohei Ohtani on short rest—a move confirmed by The Athletic and one that puts baseball’s biggest star on its brightest stage.
Manager Dave Roberts left the door open for other arms, including Glasnow (who needed just three pitches in Game 6), Game 5 starter Blake Snell, and possibly even Yamamoto if the situation demands. “Every other pitcher on the roster will be available,” Roberts said postgame. Both teams are all-in, knowing that the outcome will define legacies and memories for years to come.
For Toronto, a win would end a 32-year championship drought. For Los Angeles, victory would mean back-to-back titles—a rare achievement in the modern era.
Fans on Edge as Baseball Awaits Its Champion
The drama of the 2025 World Series has captured the attention of fans across North America. Each inning, each decision, each sprint around the bases has carried the weight of history. The stakes have never been higher, and the tension inside Rogers Centre is palpable. Saturday’s Game 7 promises a showdown of legends, where every pitch and every play could tilt the balance between triumph and heartbreak.
In a season marked by comebacks, clutch performances, and the emergence of new stars, the Dodgers and Blue Jays are now locked in a final battle for baseball’s crown. For players like Kiké Hernández and Addison Barger, the events of Game 6 will be remembered as turning points—moments that define careers and unite or divide fan bases.
As the dust settles from a stunning Game 6, the 2025 World Series stands on the edge of history. The Dodgers’ blend of experience and daring moves has forced a decisive Game 7, where the unpredictable beauty of baseball will once again take center stage. In a year full of surprises, only one team will seize the moment and write its name into legend.