Dodgers Rally for Repeat, Taking Captivating Series on Dramatic Late Home Runs

Brynn Anderson/AP

TORONTO – The Los Angeles Dodgers once again sit atop the baseball world. In one of the most unforgettable Game 7 finishes in World Series history, the Dodgers rallied late and defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5–4 in extra innings to capture their second consecutive championship. Blue and silver confetti rained down across Rogers Centre as Los Angeles players embraced near the mound after Will Smith’s go-ahead solo home run in the top of the 11th inning sealed the Dodgers’ back-to-back title run. The victory marked the Dodgers’ third championship in six years and their ninth overall, establishing a true golden era in franchise history. “I'm just speechless, I really am,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “It’s going to go down as one for the ages.” The Blue Jays, meanwhile, were just two outs away from securing their first title in over three decades. Toronto fans held their breath as veteran Miguel Rojas stepped up in the ninth inning, trailing 4–3. With a full count, Rojas launched a slider into the left-field stands, tying the game and silencing the home crowd.

“It was supposed to end differently,” said Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman, who surrendered the game-tying blast. “Just one pitch, and, uh, yeah.”

Before the Dodgers’ dramatic rally, Toronto appeared poised for victory. Bo Bichette, playing through a knee injury, delivered a towering three-run homer off Shohei Ohtani in the third inning, giving the Blue Jays an early 3–1 advantage. The 442-foot drive was the third-longest home run of Bichette’s career and seemed destined to become a defining moment in Canadian baseball lore.

The Jays relied on a combination of veteran grit and youthful energy, with 41-year-old Max Scherzer starting and rookie Trey Yesavage bridging the middle innings. Toronto’s defense shined throughout the night, highlighted by Daulton Varsho’s diving catch in left field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s slick double play at first. But as the Dodgers have proven time and again, no deficit is too large. Max Muncy’s solo shot in the eighth brought Los Angeles within one, setting the stage for Rojas’ stunning equalizer an inning later. When the game entered extra innings, it became a battle of endurance and nerves. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had pitched and won in both Games 2 and 6, returned on zero days’ rest to deliver three clutch innings of relief. His performance cemented his status as World Series MVP. In the 11th inning, Smith stepped to the plate against Toronto starter-turned-reliever Shane Bieber. With two outs and the count even, Smith crushed a hanging slider deep to left field, making history with the first extra-inning home run in a winner-take-all World Series game.

“You dream of those moments,” Smith said. “Extra innings, put your team ahead? Yeah, I’ll remember that one forever.” Toronto nearly answered in the bottom half of the inning. Guerrero doubled, advanced to third, and stood 90 feet away from tying the game. But Yamamoto induced Alejandro Kirk to roll a grounder to shortstop Mookie Betts, who turned a crisp double play to clinch the championship.

“We knew it was gonna be a tough game, but that’s the beauty of our team,” Betts said. “We don’t care about tough games—we know how to win them.”

For Toronto, the loss was heartbreaking yet inspiring. Manager John Schneider praised his team’s resilience and unity, saying, “We have set a new expectation and a new standard here. It’s tough to say goodbye to this group.”

For Los Angeles, it was the culmination of another remarkable October run. The Dodgers overcame slow stretches in the regular season and a grueling seven-game Series to stand alone once again. In a season full of storylines—Ohtani’s dominance, Smith’s heroics, and Yamamoto’s brilliance—the Dodgers proved that greatness is sustained not just by talent, but by willpower.

As the final out settled into Freddie Freeman’s glove and confetti began to fall, it was clear that this Game 7 would be remembered among baseball’s all-time classics. For the Dodgers, it was a victory not only of skill, but of heart.