TORONTO — You wanted an epic finish to the World Series? You got it.
You wanted the most drama possible, re-creating that 2023 World Baseball Classic when he struck out Mike Trout to win the gold medal for Japan? you got it.
You’re going to see Shohei Ohtani pitch in Game 7 of the World Series on just three days’ rest for the first time in his career – or perhaps play the outfield for the first time in four years if he comes on in relief.
“Everything’s on the table,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Game 6.
“Everything,’ he reiterated.
The endless possibilities could now turn into reality after the Dodgers forced a Game 7 with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays behind the tremendous pitching performance of Ohtani’s countrymen from Japan. Starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six brilliant innings and rookie Roki Sasaki helped close it out, with Tyler Glasnow getting the first save in the World Series.
The Dodgers’ dominant pitching certainly spoiled the party at the Rogers Centre, with the frenzied sellout crowd hoping, believing, this could be their first World Series celebration since 1993.
Yamamoto, who left the Blue Jays at the altar in free agency two years ago, gave Toronto no chance. He shut down the Blue Jays for the second time this series, forcing the first World Series Game 7 since 2019.
Put your money on Ohtani to start considering Glasnow, who was the scheduled starter for Game 7, got the final three outs. This would allow the Dodgers keep Ohtani in the game.
Yamamoto, who has morphed into Dodgers 1988 hero Orel Hershiser this postseason, simply refused to lose Friday. He put the Dodgers on his back once again, putting them on the brink of back-to-back World Series championships.
He didn’t become just the fourth pitcher in the wild-card era to throw three consecutive complete games in the postseason … but he came close.
Yamamoto gave up just five hits and one walk in six innings and never gave in. He departed after six innings, turning the game over to the Dodgers’ beleaguered bullpen.
And they somehow survived, forcing their first Game 7 in a World Series since they lost to the 2017 Houston Astros.
Simply, Yamamoto refused to let them lose.
Roberts, who shook up his lethargic lineup for the second consecutive game, dropping Mookie Betts to the cleanuip spot for the first time since 2017, saw the strategy immediately pay dividends.
Betts, who was hitting .130 in the World Series and just .164 since the wild-card series, broke out of his slump the same time Blue Jays manager John Schneider tempted fate again by intentionally walking Ohtani with one out and Tommy Edman on second base.
Will Smith stepped to the plate, delivered a run-scoring double, and a rally was on.
Freddie Freeman walked on five pitches, loading the bases for Betts, with Betts already stranding 24 baserunners this series.
Not this time.
Betts, down 1-and-2 in the count, smacked an elevated fastball into left field for a two-run single.
It was the latest intentional walk to Ohtani that backfired.
Ohtani has been intentionally walked nine time this postseason, and the subsequent batter has hit .500 (3 for 6) with three walks.
It turned out to be the only blemish on Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman’s performance all night.
He struck out seven of the first eight batters he faced, tying a World Series record, and after Betts’ two-run single, Gausman retired the next 10 batters through six innings.
He turned the game over to right-handed reliever Louis Varland after six innings, giving up three hits and three runs, walking two and striking out eight batters, after throwing 93 pitches.
In the end, it was the Dodgers refusing to give in, forcing a beautiful Game 7.
Stay tuned.
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