Another year of baseball has come and gone, and the Los Angeles Dodgers competed in the World Series yet again, this time looking to repeat as champions.
After a resounding series sweep against the Cincinnati Reds and a commanding series win in both the National League Division Series and the National League Championship Series, the Dodgers were on the hunt for their third World Series in the past 5 years.
Led by soon-to-be 2x MVP Shohei Ohtani and 2024 World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers ultimately came out victorious against the Toronto Blue Jays in 7 games.
Throughout the series, the Dodgers and Blue Jays exchanged blows, although it seemed like Toronto might take it all in Game 7.
Game 3 of the series immediately became an instant classic, spanning across 18 innings. Both sides were running out of arms, with Dodgers’ Will Klein taking a bulk of the game in response to a depleted bullpen.
Shohei Ohtani also had a historic game during this marathon of a game, reaching base 9 times without recording a single out. The Blue Jays refused to pitch to him, intentionally walking him 5 times.
Some people question the ethics of the decision, but what can you do when the future GOAT of baseball has a chance to end the game every time he’s up?
The Dodgers turned back the clock to last year’s World Series, where Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to win the game. This time, Freddie Freeman hit a solo shot to end Game 3 in the 18th.
However, not all was peachy for the Dodgers, as they lost the next two games and were quickly down 3-2 in the series, thanks to Trey Yesavage setting a record for strikeouts with 12.
But the reigning champions weren’t gonna go down without a fight, as former Japanese Sawamura award winner, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, delivered a 90 pitch gem to help propel the Dodgers to a win in Game 6 in an attempt to claw back.
As if this series wasn’t already historic, Game 7 gave us one of the greatest World Series games to ever exist.
Shohei Ohtani. Max Scherzer. Two all-time greats, going head-to-head in Game 7 of the World Series. Ohtani didn’t start the game off too hot, letting up a 3-run blast to Bo Bichette (who is coming off an injury).
Scherzer, on the other hand, cruised through the Dodger lineup, and it was quickly 4-2 heading into the 7th. The Dodgers had used all of their stars to this point, including all-star Tyler Glasnow and Justin Wrobleski.
Hope seemed to dwindle for the Dodgers in the 8th, before Max Muncy punished a hanging splitter from Yesavage. The score was 4-3 going into the 9th, with the bottom of the order coming up for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles was losing its heart. The city began to prepare for disappointment yet again. Toronto was beginning to open the champagne bottles in celebration of the for-sure win. Toronto was about to celebrate toppling the reigning champions, the juggernauts of the league.
Until Miguel Rojas.
Rojas had not hit a home run since the All-Star break in July. Rojas had not hit a right-handed home run all year (excluding position players) until the 9th inning.
“Here comes the payoff,”
…
“Drilled to left field and deep… AND GONE!” Joe Davis exclaimed. “No way!”
Just like that, the Dodgers tied the game in their last breath. Dave Roberts called to his bullpen, and out came Yoshinobu Yamamoto, fresh off the 90 pitch start the day before. Yamamoto was looking to send the game into the top of the 10th with no runs.
However, he encountered trouble when he loaded the bases, but thanks to Roberts’ defensive substitution, Andy Pages made an immaculate catch to send the Dodgers to the top of the 10th. From there, Will Smith sent a ball into the seats to secure a lead for the Dodgers.
In a last act of heroism, Yamamoto closed out the game in the bottom of the 10th for the Dodgers and sent them back home to LA with another World Series win.
Following the World Series victory, the Dodgers hosted a city-wide parade to celebrate the win. Now, Dodger fans are waiting in anticipation, hoping to see the Dodgers as champions for a third time in 2026.
