World Series: Dodgers Storm Back, Defend Title in Game 7 over Blue Jays

• November 1, 2025

World Series, Game 7: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 4 (11 Innings)

The Los Angeles Dodgers stormed back against the Toronto Blue Jays to win Game Seven in 11 innings, 5–4. They have cemented themselves in history, becoming the first team to defend their title since the ’98-’00 New York Yankees and the first National League team to do so since the ’75-’76 Cincinnati Reds. The Dodgers’ starters gave great performances on the mound to pull out the victory in a comeback win. This game had a little bit of everything: benches clearing, jaw-dropping defensive gems, and clutch home runs that sent the dugout into chaos.

The game looked grim for the Dodgers early on as the Blue Jays’ offense got to an early start, but the defending champs did not fold. Yoshinobu Yamamoto held the line and bought enough time for the bats to wake up.

Dodgers-Blue Jays Game Summary

Blue Jays Start Hot

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In the third inning, Bo Bichette belted a homer to center that gave the Blue Jays a three-run lead. Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani looked uncomfortable on the mound, never really finding his rhythm. He struggled through the first two innings, giving up four hits before the Bichette home run.

Dodgers Storm Back

With a 3-1 deficit in the sixth, the Dodgers struck again. Betts worked a walk, and Muncy singled to put a runner in scoring position. Teoscar Hernandez hit into a forceout but beat the relay to first as Bettts advanced to third. Tommy Edman scored Betts with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Blue Jays answered back in the next half-inning to bring their lead back to two. Ernie Clement hit a single and then stole second, and Andres Gimenez drove him in with an RBI double.

Dodgers Complete the Comeback and Hold On

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Clutch hitting in the late innings allowed the Dodgers to storm back. In the eighth, Muncy homered to bring the Dodgers back within one. In the ninth, an unlikely source delivered the game-tying run with the Dodgers’ season on the line. The nine-hole hitter Miguel Rojas, hitless for a month, delivered the swing of his life when it mattered most. He hit a solo shot to left on a payoff pitch from Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman to tie the game.

After getting into some trouble in the bottom of the ninth, Blake Snell was taken out for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to close the game. After throwing 96 pitches in a Game Six victory one day prior, Yamamoto was entrusted with the ball with the Dodgers’ season on the line.

In 2 2/3 innings, Yamamoto surrendered only one hit and shut the Blue Jays down. Smith hit the go-ahead home run in the 11th off Shane Bieber, putting the Dodgers up 5-4.

What Went Right for the Blue Jays

Good Offensive Performance

The Blue Jays jumped out to a three-run lead early, and when the Dodgers threatened to come back, they tacked on another run. They were aggressive all game, going 14-for-43 and taking advantage of every mistake on the mound. They set up crucial RBI opportunities but fell short when it mattered most.

What Went Wrong for the Blue Jays

The Blue Jays allowed momentum to shift back in the Dodgers’ favor at critical points in the game. They let the Dodgers scratch runs across innings, and then a couple of misplaced pitches led to home runs that put the Dodgers back in it.  They missed chances to take the game back, compounding the problem. In the ninth inning, with the bases loaded and a tie game, they failed to plate the winning run. Ultimately, their early lead wasn’t enough to withstand the Dodgers, and they ended up on the wrong end of a historic comeback.

What Went Wrong for the Dodgers

Ohtani’s Rough Start

Ohtani pitched a rough two first innings, narrowly escaping disaster. Seeing this, Dave Roberts still saw fit to let him pitch the third, and the Blue Jays made them pay. Ohtani threw for 2 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and giving up three runs. Not the start the Dodgers wanted to get out to, as they hoped Ohtani would provide them with some length.

Offensive Struggles

Before their game-changing home runs in the eighth and ninth innings, the Dodgers were struggling to bring home runners on base. They stranded runners in scoring position, when they had chances to really change the complexion of the game. Mistimed swings leading to pop-outs kept them playing catch-up through seven innings.

What Went Right for the Dodgers

Clutch Hitting

The Dodgers’ bats came alive in the late innings to take the game away from the Blue Jays. After trailing for much of the game, they stayed patient at the plate and capitalized. At most points during the series, Dodgers batters were playing hero ball, swinging for the fences, and in Game Seven, it worked out in their favor. Will Smith’s go-ahead homer in the 11th capped off the comeback, setting the table for Yamamoto.

Great Defensive Stops

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In the ninth with the bases loaded and one out, Miguel Rojas and Andy Pages made game-saving plays. On a ground to second, Rojas dug it out and made a great throw to home to stop the walk-off run from coming across. With two outs, Clement hit a fly ball to deep right field. Pages tracked the ball perfectly, running full speed to make the catch, even as he collided with teammate Kiké Hernandez in the process.

Resilient Pitching

After Ohtani’s rough start, the Dodgers’ pitching settled in, only allowing one more run. The bullpen kept the Blue Jays from extending the lead out of reach, giving the Dodgers a chance to storm back. Yoshinobu Yamamoto rose to the occasion on short rest in a gutsy pitching performance. He navigated a bases-loaded situation after inheriting runners from Snell. The Dodgers ace allowed a single hit before shutting the door on the Blue Jays’ championship aspirations.

Quick Hits

Ernie Clement now holds the record for most hits in a single postseason (30).

The Blue Jays’ 14 runners left on base ties a record for the most in a World Series Game 7, joining the 1924 New York Giants

Freddie Freeman’s 22-game postseason on-base streak is the longest in the Dodgers franchise history.

The Dodgers became the fourth National League team to win back-to-back World Series titles, joining the 1907-08 Chicago Cubs, 1921-22 New York Giants, and the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds.

Yamamoto became the 28th pitcher (30th occurrence) to be named Willie Mays World Series MVP. He is also the first since Stephen Strasburg (Nationals, 2019). Yamamoto is the fourth internationally born pitcher to be named World Series MVP, joining Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera (Panama, 1999); Liván Hernández (Cuba, 1997); and José Rijo (D.R., 1990).

Looking Ahead

Win: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Loss: Shane Bieber

As the Dodgers storm back and defend their title, they look towards the offseason and look for a three-peat. This is something no National League team has ever done. The Toronto Blue Jays look towards the offseason as well after a heart-wrenching World Series loss.

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