The Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a devastating blow to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, orchestrating a late-game comeback to steal Game 7 of the World Series, 5-4.
In a white-knuckled game that the Blue Jays led for eight innings, the Dodgers got a game-tying homer from Miguel Rojas in the ninth and a game-winner from Will Smith in the 11th to deny the Jays victory. Instead, the Dodgers have earned back-to-back World Series championships.
The Dodgers silenced a passionate Toronto crowd who had been waiting for their first World Series title since Joe Carter smacked a homer in 1993 to claim the second of back-to-back Jays championships. On Saturday, Toronto’s fans were left shocked and gut-punched, just like the team who spilled into its dugout to mourn the dream season that fell agonizingly short of taking it all.
The Blue Jays had returned home from Los Angeles leading the best-of-seven series 3-2, and during two days in Toronto, they let it slip away.
Los Angeles pulled every rabbit out of the hat on Saturday – like calling several starters from the bullpen, including ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, just a day after he started Game 6.
Toronto did everything but win on Saturday. The game had so many fascinating moments: a gallant Max Scherzer start, the biggest home run of Bo Bichette’s career, a Trey Yesavage relief stint and a record-setting day for Ernie Clement.
Scherzer gets relieved in the fifth inning of Saturday's Game 7 World Series matchup.Nick Turchiaro/Reuters
Toronto called on 41-year-old Scherzer, the only living pitcher to start two Game 7s in the World Series. The three-time Cy Young Award winner tossed 4⅓ innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits while striking out three before pounding his chest to the crowd as he walked off to a standing ovation.
Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani started out pitching and hitting for the Dodgers. With Toronto booing him, the team got to Ohtani in the third inning. He allowed George Springer a single, then intentionally walked Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before Bichette made him pay by smashing a three-run homer.
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The moment was massive for Bichette. It was the first blast of the postseason for the long-time Jays infielder, who sat out the ALCS and ALDS healing an injured knee. It ended Ohtani’s outing after 2⅓ innings pitched and cemented once and for all that the Jays were astute to add Bichette to the World Series roster.
The Dodgers scratched back a run in the fourth inning, when Teoscar Hernández popped a sacrifice fly to score Will Smith. But the Jays limited them, thanks to diving catches by Daulton Varsho and Guerrero.
The crowd cheers after Bichette's game-changing homer.Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail
Later that inning, Dodgers reliever Justin Wrobleski hit Andrés Giménez with a pitch, and both teams cleared their dugouts and bullpens for a confrontation.
After Scherzer exited, the Jays called Louis Varland from the bullpen, then Chris Bassitt. Tension intensified as the Dodgers pulled within a run by scoring off Bassitt in the sixth – Mookie Betts coming home on a Tommy Edman sac fly.
The Dodgers called starter Tyler Glasnow from their ‘pen for a second straight day. Clement singled and then Giménez gave the Jays a two-run lead by rocking an RBI double to the wall to send him home. It was part of a three-hit day for Clement, giving him the most hits in a single postseason in baseball history.
The Jays called rookie starter Yesavage out of the bullpen for the first time in his fairytale-like first MLB season. Arriving to deafening applause, the 22-year-old was working on short rest after punching out 12 hitters in a Game 5 gem on Wednesday. Facing the top of the Dodgers’ order, the youngster walked Ohtani but then forced a flyout and a double play with savvy defence from Guerrero and Giménez.
But Max Muncy clocked a solo shot off Yesavage to zoom within one run in the eighth. That brought in closer Jeff Hoffman, who allowed the game-tying homer to Rojas that took Rogers Centre from raucous excitement to stunned silence.
In the bottom of the ninth, Bichette added another single before being replaced by pinch runner Isaiah Kiner-Falefa. Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk reached base too, but were left stranded to send the game to extras.
The Jays brought in Seranthony Domínguez. Then Shane Bieber, who allowed the 11th-inning homer to Smith.
Guerrero doubled to rally Toronto in the bottom of the 11th. It ended in Kirk lining into a double play, and the place falling silent.