We’re going to Game 7!
In a must-win Game 6 of the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered. After manager Dave Roberts shook up his lineup, new cleanup hitter Mookie Betts broke out of a series-long slump and starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was excellent again on the mound.
Then, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Enrique Hernandez and the Dodgers’ defense turned an incredible double play to end a rally and force the Toronto Blue Jays to a winner-take-all finale Saturday night.
Here’s how L.A.’s victory went down, with our in-game analysis and postgame takeaways.
Takeaways
Series tied at 3
It was over when …: Hernandez caught an Andres Gimenez line drive and threw it to Miguel Rojas for an improbable game-ending double play. The Blue Jays had put runners on second and third with no one out in the bottom of the ninth off closer Roki Sasaki (an Addison Barger double getting stuck in the outfield fence prevented a run from scoring), and the Dodgers turned to Tyler Glasnow — who got out of the jam, thanks in part to his defense, to force Game 7 on Saturday night.
Star of Game 6: Toronto made Yamamoto work a little harder this time, but he still pitched six outstanding frames, limiting the Blue Jays to one run and working around traffic several times. Yamamoto is now 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA over five October outings. If that’s it for his postseason run, he has done his part and more for the Dodgers. This is why L.A. signed him to the biggest contract ever given to a pitcher when he inked it.
The stat that defined the game: In the past 30 years, there have been five players to pitch 15-plus innings in the World Series and allow two runs or fewer: Randy Johnson in 2001, Josh Beckett in 2003, Jon Lester in 2013, Madison Bumgarner in 2014 — and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2025, according to ESPN Research. Each of the previous four saw their team win the World Series.
What it means for the series: Blue Jays manager John Schneider knew he had a game to work with. There was no reason to go all hands on deck, and since the game was well-pitched by both teams, neither bullpen was annihilated by the events of Game 6. Game 7 will be a fascinating chess match from the time the starting pitchers and lineups are announced. If the finale is anything like the different scenes that have come before it, it’s going to be special. — Bradford Doolittle
