An instant-classic
The Los Angeles Dodgers did it again — but they did it in the kind of Game 7 that’ll be replayed, dissected and remembered for years. In the early hours of Sunday morning, L.A. edged out the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings to win their second consecutive 2025 World Series, denying Toronto a first title in 32 years. The Guardian
The turning points
Toronto jumped to an early lead. In the third inning, Bo Bichette belted a three-run homer off Shohei Ohtani, giving the Blue Jays a 3-0 cushion. ESPN But the Dodgers began to claw back: a sacrifice fly, then another, cut the lead. They scraped within 4-2 in the sixth. Wikipedia
The ninth inning turned into a micro-cosm of the series: the Blue Jays were one out from glory. The Dodgers tied it when Miguel Rojas launched a game-tying solo homer in the ninth — a gut-punch that silenced Toronto. Reuters
Then the Jays had the bases loaded. One swing, one throw away from the trophy. But the Dodgers made the play: a ground-out at the plate followed by a deep fly snared in left to keep it alive.
And then in the 11th, with two outs, pressure high and the world watching, Will Smith connected — a solo home run off Shane Bieber that gave L.A. the 5-4 lead. All that remained was one relief outing: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, coming in the day after a 96-pitch start, shutting the door and sealing L.A.’s ninth title. He earned MVP honours. AP
Why this matters
- First back-to-back World Series champion since the New York Yankees (1998-2000). Reuters
- The Blue Jays arguably did more than enough — they out-scored L.A. across the series — but couldn’t finish the job when it counted most. Wikipedia
- Game 7 had everything: early dominance, a late surge, a tying ninth-inning blast, the bases loaded, extra innings, and a season decided by one perfect swing.
- For the Dodgers, this cements a legacy. For Toronto, the heartbreak is brutal — the dream was real, and it slipped away.
Aftermath and reflections
“Man, they’re a special group of guys… we just never gave up,” Will Smith said, capturing the Dodgers’ spirit to a tee. Their offence wasn’t dominant in the series, but their pitching, poise under pressure and the timely hit made the difference. The Guardian
The Blue Jays will look back on the moments that got away: a spectacular defensive rescue, a razor-thin review at the plate, and the nightmare of being that close. The sting will linger for weeks — maybe months — but what they built this season deserves praise.
As for Yamamoto: what a performance — multiple high-leverage appearances, a microscopic ERA, and a clutch Game 7 outing on no rest. He stands alongside some of the great postseason pitching efforts. AP