TORONTO — It was six minutes past midnight at Rogers Center when Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith sent a soaring drive into the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen, a hit so pure that the only sound to follow was the muted thunk of the baseball landing in disbelief. The crowd, once thunderous, fell into stunned silence. Smith’s 11th-inning home run sealed a 5–4 Dodgers victory in Game 7 of the World Series, and with it, baseball’s first back-to-back championship since the New York Yankees dynasty of 1998–2000.
After trailing by three runs and coming within two outs of elimination, the Dodgers once again proved their resilience. Shortstop Miguel Rojas had tied the game in the ninth inning with a dramatic homer off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman, shocking a Toronto crowd that moments earlier was ready to celebrate. From there, it was all heart, hustle, and history.
From the Brink to the Crown
By the time Mookie Betts caught a grounder for the final out and leaped into the air, exhaustion and elation merged into one. The Dodgers, who entered the postseason amid doubts about age and durability, fought through every obstacle. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, pitching on no rest after starting Game 6, recorded the final eight outs to preserve the win, and with it, his own place in World Series lore.
Manager Dave Roberts could only shake his head in disbelief as his team poured out of the dugout. “These guys don’t quit,” he said afterward. “They’ve been through every kind of adversity, and somehow, they find another gear.”
Toronto’s heartbreak was palpable. They had battled injuries, from George Springer’s nagging core pain to Bo Bichette’s slowed stride, yet still stood on the cusp of their first championship in more than three decades. Instead, they were undone by a single misplaced pitch and the Dodgers’ relentless will.
Ohtani vs. Scherzer: Legends Collide
Game 7 had all the elements of a classic: Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way superstar, versus Max Scherzer, Toronto’s 41-year-old warrior making what could be his final start. Ohtani dazzled early, flashing 100 mph heat, while Scherzer countered with grit and guile. But in the third inning, Bichette crushed a hanging slider deep into center field for a three-run homer that briefly swung momentum Toronto’s way.
Ohtani regrouped and held the line, showing flashes of brilliance despite visible fatigue. “He gave us everything,” Roberts said. “That’s what makes him special, he finds a way.”
Chaos, Drama, and a Hollywood Ending
The tension never eased. A benches-clearing incident in the fourth inning, back-to-back defensive gems, and a crowd that lived and died with each pitch added to the electric atmosphere. By the ninth, Toronto led 4–3. Then came Rojas, the unlikely hero, crushing Hoffman’s slider over the wall and silencing 50,000 fans. Smith’s extra-inning blast in the 11th completed the storybook ending.
Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled to lead off the bottom half, representing the tying run, but Yamamoto held firm. When Alejandro Kirk grounded into a double play, the Dodgers erupted. Caps flew. Gloves soared. The dynasty talk began.
A Series for the Ages
This World Series had it all: extra innings, clutch home runs, benches clearing, and heroes emerging from exhaustion. Both teams pushed to the edge of endurance. Yet, in the end, the Dodgers’ experience and unbreakable spirit carried them through. “They didn’t ruin baseball,” McCullough wrote. “For seven unforgettable games, the Dodgers and Blue Jays reminded us why we love it. ”With their second consecutive championship, the Dodgers have not only reclaimed baseball’s summit, they’ve redefined what perseverance looks like.
Credit: Adapted from original reporting by Andy McCullough, Los Angeles Times (November 2, 2025).
