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The World Series is headed to a final Game 7 following the Dodgers kept their title defense hopes alive Friday night with a three to one win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6.

The defending champions ended Toronto’s late-game comeback with a dramatic game-ending twin killing, silencing a Rogers Centre audience that had come ready to cheer the city’s championship in 32 years.

Game 6 Summary

Los Angeles generated all of their offense in the third inning. With two away, Ohtani was purposely passed before Smith doubled to left field to score Edman. Freeman earned a base on balls to load the bases, and Betts came through with a two-run single to left, handing the Dodgers a three-run advantage.

Betts’ hit broke a playoff dry spell and revived the title holders' hopes of being the first repeat championship winners since the Yankees captured three consecutive from 1998 through 2000.

Pitching Duel

Gausman had been nearly unhittable to that stage, striking out half a dozen of the first seven batters he faced. He struck out eight through three frames, matching a Fall Classic record, but the third-inning barrage proved decisive. The Toronto ace ended with 8 Ks over six frames, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks.

Yamamoto, in contrast, was solid again under stress. The 27-year-old right-hander outdueled Gausman for the second time in a week, allowing a single run on five base hits over six frames with six strikeouts. He improved to four wins and one loss this playoffs with a 1.56 ERA.

The lone score against him came on George Springer two-out base hit in the third, scoring Barger, who had hit a double previously in the frame. Springer’s hit offered a brief spark in his comeback to the starting nine after sitting out two games with an side strain.

Relief Heroics

After that, the Los Angeles relievers carried the load. Rookie Justin Wrobleski got out of a jam in the seventh, and fellow rookie Rōki Sasaki pitched into the ninth before hitting Alejandro Kirk to open the inning. Barger followed with a two-base hit that became wedged under the left-center-field fence, forcing runners to hold at second and third.

Glasnow, the Dodgers' third game starting pitcher, entered in relief and got a pop fly before Giménez lined to left. Hernández caught the ball and fired to second base to double off Barger, sealing the win and giving Glasnow his first career save.

Looking Ahead: Game 7

The best-of-seven now comes down to one game. Max Scherzer will start for Toronto, making him the only living pitcher to pitch in multiple seventh games of the World Series after accomplishing that in 2019 with Washington. The 40-year-old signed a one-year deal to chase another championship and has been a vocal leader throughout this postseason.

The Dodgers, looking to be baseball’s first back-to-back champions in almost 25 years, are projected to lean on Shohei Ohtani for a brief appearance.