TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – In 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers came back to the World Series. They came back in Game 7, too. They came all the way back to become the first repeat winners of the World Series since the New York Yankees hit the trifecta in 1998-2000.

Will Smith hit a home run with two outs in the 11th to send the Dodgers to a 5-4 Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night. The Dodgers were down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series after a Game 5 loss on Wednesday.

Smith’s second homer of the postseason came on a shot to left on a 2-0 slider from Shane Bieber (2-1).

The Dodgers overcame a 4-2 deficit, tying the game at 4 on Miguel Rojas’ first homer of the postseason on a Jeff Hoffman 3-2 slider with one out in the ninth.

“There was so many pressure points and how that game could have flipped,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And we just kept fighting, and guys stepped up big. So I could just go on and on about the big plays, the big performances. It’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever been a part of, and this whole series and what the Blue Jays did and they gave us everything they had and just such a first-class organization.”

In keeping with the rallying theme, Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5-1), who pitched six innings to earn the win in Game 6 on Friday, came back Saturday to pitch the final 2 2/3 scoreless innings to win Game 7. He also pitched a complete game to win Game 2 and was named World Series MVP.

“It’s unheard of, and I think that there’s a mind component, there’s a delivery, which is a flawless delivery, and there’s just an unwavering will,” Roberts said. “I just haven’t seen it. I really haven’t. You know, all that combined. And there’s certain players that want moments and there’s certain players that want it for the right reasons, but Yoshi is a guy that I just completely implicitly trust and he’s made me a pretty dang good manager.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off the home 11th with a double against Yamamoto. Guerrero took third on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s sacrifice. Addison Barger walked before Alejandro Kirk grounded into a season-ending double play.

“Man, it’s hard. I had my first team meeting of the year after the game,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “There’s so many things that to unpack there, not just the series as a whole, seven games, two of them go to extras. I thought we played great baseball, both teams having chances there late. I feel for the guys. This is a special group of guys.”

Both teams had chances to win earlier. In the home ninth, Blake Snell allowed a one-out single and a walk before Yamamoto came in to load the bases with a hit batter before getting a force at home and a flyout to force extra innings.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the 10th against Seranthony Dominguez but failed to score.

Max Muncy also homered for the Dodgers and Bo Bichette hit a three-run homer for the Blue Jays.

Toronto’s Ernie Clement had three hits to set a postseason record of 30. He extended his postseason hit streak to 13 games, a franchise record.

“Historic,” Schneider said. “You don’t see that very often. We’re talking about really good pitchers, right-handers, left-handers. Ernie had a phenomenal year. I hope he wins a Gold Glove. He should. And he kind of became one of the faces of our team because of the way he plays.”

George Springer added three hits for Toronto.

Shohei Ohtani, L.A.’s Game 4 starter, allowed Springer’s leadoff single in the third. Springer took second on Nathan Lukes’ sacrifice and moved to third on a wild pitch to Guerrero, who was then walked intentionally. Bichette smashed a first-pitch slider to center for his first homer of the postseason and the Blue Jays jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Ohtani allowed three runs, five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.

Smith doubled high off the wall in left-center against Toronto starter Max Scherzer to start the fourth and took third on Freddie Freeman’s single. Muncy walked with one out. Center fielder Daulton Varsho made a diving catch on Teoscar Hernandez’s sacrifice fly but Smith scored.

Scherzer allowed one run, four hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Toronto’s Chris Bassitt walked Mookie Betts to start the sixth. Muncy singled and was out at second on Hernandez’s bouncer to the mound. Tommy Edman hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Clement led off the home sixth with a single, stole second and scored on Andres Gimenez’s double to center.

Toronto’s Trey Yesavage allowed Muncy’s third homer of the postseason with one out in the eighth on a 1-1 splitter.

–Field Level Media

The post Dodgers Come Back, Win World Series appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – As if there were not enough drama, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays will go at it again – TONIGHT – in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.

The teams played an 18-inning Game 3 in Los Angeles, won 6-5 by the Dodgers on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run. Then came the ending of Game 6 on Friday. With the Dodgers leading by two runs, one out and runners on second and third, Andres Gimenez lined out to left fielder Enrique Hernandez, who threw to second baseman Miguel Rojas to double off Addison Barger at second.

That completed the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory to set up a Game 7 in the World Series for the first time since 2019, when the Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros.

It will be the seventh elimination or call it, in this case, winner-take-all, game of the 2025 postseason, matching 2012 for the most.

After the Friday contest, the term “all hands on deck” was thrown around frequently when referring to pitching possibilities for Game 7.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he had not decided on a starter. He did say that Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles’ Game 3 starter who got the final three outs of Game 6 for his first career save, would be available.

“They are all possibilities,” he said.

That includes Game 4 starter Shohei Ohtani, who could either open or relieve.

“Just kind of figuring out what his temperature is on starting versus coming out of the ‘pen, and so we’re close to a decision,” Roberts said.

Toronto will go with Max Scherzer (1-0, 4.50 ERA postseason), who started Game 3.

Scherzer will be starting his second career World Series Game 7. The other was with the Nationals in 2019, when he threw five innings of two-run ball in a no-decision.

“No better guy to have on the mound to kind of navigate the emotions, the stuff,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Max has been getting ready for Game 7 when he knew he was pitching Game 3. So all the confidence in the world in him and everyone (Saturday).”

Scherzer allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings during the Game 3 marathon.

The Dodgers are trying to become the first repeat World Series champions since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be fun,” said Los Angeles catcher Will Smith, who hit an RBI double in Game 6. “We work all year long to be in this situation to win a ballgame and win a World Series.”

Roberts added, “We’re going to leave it out there. I don’t think that the pressure, the moment’s going to be too big for us. We got to go out there and win one baseball game. We’ve done that all year.”

The Blue Jays will be trying to win their first World Series since they won back-to-back titles in 1992-93, their only previous appearances in the Fall Classic.

Toronto is headed to its second Game 7 of the 2025 postseason. The Blue Jays won Games 6 and 7 at home to take the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners.

Schneider believes his team is good at keeping things as normal as possible, and he expects the same on Saturday.

We’ve done that a lot this year,” Schneider said. “We’ve got voices in the clubhouse and people in the coaching staff that will keep it normal (Saturday). It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be three or four or five hours of mayhem and great baseball.

“But these guys are going to be ready for it. Hopefully they get to slow some things down but enjoy it. It’s Game 7 of the World Series at your home stadium. I mean, what the hell else do you want?”

–Field Level Media

The post Greatest Words in Sports: Game Seven! appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

LOS ANGELES – (Wire Service Report) – From Class-A to a class of his own, Trey Yesavage put the Toronto Blue Jays one victory away from a championship.

The rookie dominated with 12 strikeouts, Davis Schneider hit a home run on the opening pitch and the Toronto Blue Jays cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday.

The result sends Toronto home with a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series.

The post Blue Jays One Big Win Away appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

TORONTO – (Wire Service Report) – Given the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting pitching dominance in the postseason, manager Dave Roberts could pick anybody in the rotation and feel good about his team’s chances.

But after the way left-hander Blake Snell and righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto performed in the first two games of the NLCS, why change anything for the World Series?

Embed from Getty Images

Roberts confirmed this line of thinking on Tuesday as he tabbed Snell and Yamamoto to start on Friday and Saturday in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Both will be working on 10 days’ rest.

“I think we’re going to run the same rotation back, I think for sure for the first two,” Roberts said.

Snell, who inked a five-year, $182 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, threw 21 innings versus National League competition in the playoffs and allowed just two runs (0.86 ERA) and six hits. He blanked strong-hitting teams in Philadelphia and Milwaukee — highlighted by allowing just one hit over eight innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Brewers.

Yamamoto threw a complete game the next night in Game 2 against Milwaukee, allowing 1 run on 3 hits.

Both of those efforts came on the road, the same challenge the duo will face against the hot-hitting Blue Jays.

Roberts has other outstanding options for Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles as power right-handers Tyler Glasnow (0.68 playoff ERA) and Shohei Ohtani are lined for those games.

The Dodgers’ relative weakness — the bullpen — may get a lift in the World Series. Southpaw Tanner Scott, who missed the last two series after an emergency surgical procedure, could return to boost that group.

Scott, another free-agent acquisition this winter, earned 23 saves but struggled at times. He blew 10 saves and pitched to a 4.74 ERA.

“It’s just kind of trying to get a grasp on the doctors giving him the full kind of green light, the go-ahead,” Roberts said. “I know that he’s anxious, which is a good thing, but fortunately, we get to see for a couple more days how he responds to throwing and bullpens and things like that.”

–Field Level Media

The post World Series: Dodgers vs Guerrero Jr. appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

TORONTO – (Wire Service Report) – Boston’s ace starter Garrett Crochet pitched eight scoreless innings, Carlos Narvaez hit a three-run home run and the visiting Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Wednesday night in Canada.

Crochet (18-5) allowed three hits and no walks while striking out six to lower his ERA to 2.59.

Masataka Yoshida added a solo homer and an RBI double while Trevor Story contributed three hits to help the Red Sox (87-71) to their second straight win to open the three-game series. Romy Gonzalez had two hits and two RBIs.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa homered for Toronto in the ninth against Payton Tolle.

The Blue Jays (90-68) have lost six of their last seven games and have now fallen into a tie for first within their division. They began the day with a one-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East.

The Red Sox have won four of five as they close in on a postseason berth. The Blue Jays have clinched a playoff spot.

Boston scored three runs in the first inning against Max Scherzer (5-5). Story looped a single to left and took third on Alex Bregman’s single to right. Yoshida dumped an RBI double into the right-field corner and Gonzalez knocked a two-run single to left.

Crochet pitched around Ernie Clement’s double in the bottom of the first.

Yoshida led off the fifth with a blast to right on an 0-1 fastball for his third homer of the season.

Scherzer allowed four runs, 10 hits and no walks while striking out five in five innings before Brendon Little took over to toss a perfect sixth.

Toronto’s Jose Berrios entered in the seventh to make his first relief appearance since being sent to the bullpen from the starting rotation in a move looking forward to the postseason. Berrios started his first relief appearance since 2017 with a perfect inning with one strikeout.

In the eighth, however, Berrios allowed a single to Gonzalez, a walk to Ceddanne Rafaela and the 15th homer of the season by Narvaez, a shot to right with two out.

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was ejected in the bottom of the seventh for arguing about a called third strike. Hitting coach David Popkins was also ejected.

Toronto’s Anthony Santander returned to the lineup for the first time since late May after missing nearly four months with left shoulder inflammation. He was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

–Field Level Media

The post Crochet Goes 8 Innings; Beats Jays appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

TORONTO – (Wire Service Report) – The Toronto Blue Jays’ postseason ticket officially has been punched. Their next goal is to win the American League East as they close out the regular season with a six-game home stand that opens tonight against the Boston Red Sox.

The Blue Jays (90-66) clinched a playoff berth with an 8-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday that completed a 3-4 road trip.

The win snapped the Blue Jays’ four-game losing streak during which they scored a total of three runs. It also maintained their two-game lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees, who also won Sunday.

The Red Sox (85-71) are third in the AL East, five games behind Toronto after losing 7-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday night. They will be trying to solidify their hold on a wild-card spot when they complete a six-game road trip with three in Toronto.

The Blue Jays are scheduled to start Kevin Gausman (10-10, 3.38 ERA) on Tuesday. The right-hander is 9-10 with a 4.18 ERA in 32 career games (27 starts) against the Red Sox. In his one start against them this season, he allowed one unearned run in eight innings but did not factor in the decision.

Lucas Giolito (10-4, 3.46) is expected to get the assignment for the Red Sox. The right-hander is 3-3 with a 4.63 ERA in 10 career starts against the Blue Jays. In two starts against them this season, he is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA.

Toronto leads the season series with Boston 7-3.

The Blue Jays finished last in the division in 2024 after being swept in the wild-card series in each of the previous two seasons. This season, they are considered a surprise team and were the first AL team to clinch a postseason berth.

“I’m so happy for them,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “It is hard at this level for everyone to put their egos aside and play for each other. It is so cool to see these guys genuinely happy for each other when they get the job done, no matter who it is. This is the most fulfilling team I’ve been part of.”

The resurgences of George Springer and Bo Bichette have given the offense a boost this season. Bichette, who was hampered by injuries in 2024, has been out since Sept. 7 with a sprained left knee and he will not return until the postseason.

Finishing first in the AL East and winning the top seed in the AL could be important for the Blue Jays because of the home-field advantages they bring. The Blue Jays have been two different teams this year — 50-25 at home and 40-41 on the road.

Entering Tuesday’s games, the Blue Jays are in the driver’s seat for the AL’s top seed. They have a magic number of four with the Yankees, three with the Mariners, two with the Astros and one with the other three AL teams still mathematically in the playoff chase.

The Red Sox are 39-39 on the road but are 17-10 away from home since July 23.

They missed a chance to sweep the Rays on Sunday when they stranded 10 runners despite going 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Taking the series in Tampa was considered a positive step for the Red Sox, who entered Monday sitting in the second wild-card spot. They begin the final week of the regular season one game ahead of Houston and Cleveland, who are tied for the third and final spot entering Tuesday’s action.

“Every game counts,” said Boston manager Alex Cora. “We’re in a good position. I know the season didn’t end (Sunday), but we’re in a good spot.”

Cora likes the way the offense is trending. “I truly believe now, the line is moving,” he said. “There were some tremendous at-bats, guys using the whole field.”

Boston outfielder Wilyer Abreu returned to the lineup on Sunday after being out since Aug. 18 with a strained right calf. He struck out four times as the DH.

–Field Level Media

The post Sox vs. Blue Jays: Big 3-Game Series appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – If Major League Baseball would determine series wins by cumulative score, the Boston Red Sox would’ve defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 18-15. That’s not the way it works.

In the rubber game of their three game series played under bright sunshine at Fenway Park on Sunday, Toronto beat Boston, 5-3. Red Sox starter Walker Buehler took his sixth loss of the season, largely because he let up back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning.

Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger, batting second, took Buehler long with a liner to right field to make it 1-0. Batting third, slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plopped a long drive into the second row of fans in the Green Monster seats in left field to make it 2-0, Toronto.

In the second inning, Boston was able to fight back and tie the game, utilizing a solo home run by catcher Carlos Narvaez and a double by centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela who knocked in shortstop Trevor Story. Story had singled and then stole second base.

The Jays doomed Buehler in the visitor’s fourth inning, as the Boston starter allowed three walks sprinkled through an infield hit by centerfielder Nathan Lukes and a run-scoring single to right field by second baseman Andres Gimenez which scored Lukes.

Buehler was relieved in the fifth inning, but reliever Zack Kelly allowed a Lukes singled to score veteran shortstop Bo Bichette who had doubled off Kelly to lead off the inning.

The series had a very strange vibe, as Toronto opened the three-game set with a 9-0 victory on Friday night only to lose 15-1 on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, Jays reliever Yariel Rodriguez (2-0) earned the victory while Buehler’s record dropped to (5-6). Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman earned his 18th save of the season.

Boston fell to 13-13-1 in season series, 6-6-1 at home. Boston has allowed 5+ runs for the seventh time in the last 11 games, dating back to June 17. Boston has lost seven of their last eight , dating back to June 21. Previously, they won 10 of 12 games.

For the Red Sox, it’s on to Cincinnati as the Reds visit Fenway for a three-game set where the Sox will memorialize their 1975 American League title, but World Series loss to the Reds in one of the great Fall classics of our time.

Notes:

• Reliever Zack Kelly left the game after facing only one batter in the sixth inning, suffering from right oblique tightness.
• Toronto’s back-to-back HRs today marked the third time they hit back-to-backs this season.
• Toronto is 29-18 (.617) since May 8, trailing only AL clubs Tampa Bay and Houston during that span.

The post Sox Drop Series to Blue Jays appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu hit a three-run home run and SP Lucas Giolito pitched seven strong innings as the Red Sox ended a six-game losing streak by routing the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 15-1 Saturday.

Abreu’s home run came against Toronto starting pitcher Chris Bassitt in the bottom of the first inning. It was his 14th home run of the season.

Giolito (4-1) gave up one run (unearned) on six hits in seven innings. He struck out five.

The post Red Sox Have Their Way with Blue Jays appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet aims to improve on his last start when he faces the host Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series.

The left-hander allowed four runs, five hits and a career-high five walks in five innings on Thursday in a 4-3 home loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Crochet took responsibility for the loss after the Mariners touched him for two runs in each of the first two innings.

“The game was the first two innings that I pitched,” he said. “That was really what lost us the game.”

The Blue Jays can look forward to Crochet reverting to a power pitcher from the beginning on Tuesday. He was trying to be a little too fine in the early innings against the Mariners.

“It became something where I was trying to pitch instead of just throwing,” he said after the start. “Once I started getting back to my roots and just being a power pitcher later in the game, the walks were still there, but I was at least able to get guys out.”

This will be the second time this season that Crochet (2-2, 1.95 ERA) will face the Blue Jays. He took his first loss of the season against them at Fenway Park on April 8 when he allowed four runs (one earned), five hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. In four career outings (two starts) against Toronto, he is 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.

He is expected to be opposed by right-hander Bowden Francis (2-3, 3.58) on Tuesday. Francis has not faced the Red Sox this season, but he has had success against them. He is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings over in five career games (two starts) against Boston.

The Red Sox are coming off a 13-3 road victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Kristian Campbell was 2-for-2 with four runs, a double, three walks, two RBIs and a stolen base in what manager Alex Cora described as “all-around probably one of his best, if not the best, game of the season.”

Campbell helped Boston take two of three from Cleveland.

The post Crochet to Dish in Toronto appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Toronto’s George Springer homered and Easton Lucas pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings to help the visiting Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Boston Red Sox 6-1 on Tuesday in the second game of a four-game series.

The game was scoreless until Springer hit a solo home run against Garrett Crochet (1-1) in the top of the sixth inning. It was his second home run of the season.

The Blue Jays added three more runs in the sixth, all three unearned as Boston made a pair of two-out throwing errors.

Lucas (2-0) limited Boston to three hits. He struck out eight and walked one.

Crochet, who signed a six-year, $170 million contract extension last week, made his first start at Fenway Park since he joined the Red Sox in an offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox. He allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks and five strikeouts.

Bo Bichette collected three hits and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays, who beat Boston 6-2 on Monday. Springer and Tyler Heineman each had two hits.

After David Schneider reached first on an Alex Bregman throwing error and Myles Straw walked, Toronto extended its lead to 2-0 when Heineman hit an infield single and Schneider scored on second baseman Kristian Campbell’s error on the throw to first. Bichette followed with a two-run single to center that drove in Heineman and Straw to make it 4-0.

The post Sox Lose Crochet’s Fenway Debut appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.