Facing elimination for the first time in the postseason, the Dodgers delivered a reserved performance. Starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six strong innings, while Mookie Betts and Will Smith drove in all three runs for Los Angeles.
The game ended in controversy when Toronto appeared to tie it in the ninth inning on an inside-the-park home run. The ball, however, had become lodged at the bottom of the outfield fence. Dodgers outfielder Justin Dean immediately raised his hands to signal the ball was dead. After video review, umpires ruled it a ground rule double, leaving Toronto with runners on second and third and no outs.
The Blue Jays failed to capitalize as Ernie Clement popped out, Andres Gimenez lined out to left, and Kike Hernandez turned a double play to end the game.
The victory delayed what could have been a historic night for Canada, as Blue Jays fans across the country were ready to celebrate the team’s first World Series title in 32 years.
Los Angeles took the lead in the third inning with a run-scoring double by Smith, followed by a two-run single from Betts that made it 3-0. The Blue Jays responded with a George Springer single that brought in Addison Barger, but that was all they could manage against Yamamoto.
Yamamoto, who has been dominant throughout the postseason, struck out six and allowed just one run on five hits across six innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.
Toronto had chances late, putting runners on base in the eighth inning before Roki Sasaki shut the door by retiring Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho. A similar threat in the ninth ended the same way.
Play was briefly interrupted in the sixth inning when a fan carrying a U.S. flag ran onto the field but was quickly tackled by security.
The World Series will now go to a decisive Game 7 on Saturday in Toronto.
