The LA Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series championship on Saturday, Nov. They fought tooth and nail against the Toronto Blue Jays, winning in dramatic fashion with their own 5-4, 11-inning victory. The best-of-seven series showcased fierce competition between the two teams, with the Blue Jays seeking their first championship in 32 years.
The Toronto Blue Jays laid waste to Game 1, winning in a resounding 11-4 bloodbath. The Dodgers had come out fighting with a will. They cruised to victory in Game 2 on Saturday, October 25, winning comfortably by a score of 5-1.
With Game 3 scheduled for Monday, October 27th, things escalated quickly as the LA Dodgers took on the Toronto Blue Jays. Climaxing a drama-filled contest that lasted until the 18th inning, the Dodgers finally prevailed, defeating the Pirates in 6-5. Those bluebirds struck back the very next day, in Game 4 on Tuesday, October 28, by a score of 6-2, evening the series at two games each.
On Wednesday, October 29 the Blue Jays crushed Game 5 of the series finishing off a drubbing 6-1. This victory left the Dodgers one loss away from elimination. Nevertheless, the Dodgers showcased their resilience in Game 6 on Friday, October 31, pulling off a crucial victory with a score of 3-1 to force a decisive seventh game.
As Game 7 developed at Dodger Stadium, both teams battled tooth and nail for control. The game was closely contested throughout, right up until the last few minutes. With two outs in the top of the 11th inning, LA’s Will Smith delivered a critical solo home run that propelled the Dodgers to a precarious 5-4 lead.
“Man, they’re a special group of guys,” – Will Smith
Yoshinobu Yamamoto established himself as one of the world’s best pitchers. Only a day after throwing an astounding 96 pitches in Game 6, he was called upon to save the day for his team. He was extremely vital in winning the championship. He got Alejandro Kirk to hit into a game-ending double play, and with that the World Series was over.
“[Yamamoto] was the MVP of this series. That was incredible. I talked to him yesterday. I was like, ‘Hey, if you can give us one, we’re going to win.’ He gave us three. That was special,” – Will Smith
Though they struggled offensively over the entire series—scoring just 17 runs—the Dodgers showed patience and poise when it counted most. Each time the lightning struck, it was their ability to capitalize on those moments that allowed them to win after all.
The matchup produced some of the most thrilling baseball ever played while shining a light on how different the two franchises’ paths had been. The Toronto Blue Jays fought tooth-and-nail to retake a division crown that has eluded the franchise’s trophy cabinet for more than 30 years. They fell a game short against a fiercely motivated Dodgers squad.