The Los Angeles Dodgers carved their names deeper into baseball history with a 5-4 extra-innings win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series. In a contest that had everything, from ninth-inning heartbreak to 11th-inning heroics, the Dodgers became MLB’s first repeat champions in 25 years. It was a night defined by defiance, emotion, and the brilliance of Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
This was no ordinary finale. The Dodgers, down to their final two outs, were rescued by veteran infielder Miguel Rojas, whose game-tying home run in the ninth silenced a packed Rogers Centre and stunned an entire nation. Minutes later, catcher Will Smith crushed a solo shot in the 11th inning to deliver the winning run and spark scenes of pure elation in the visiting dugout.
“I was fired up,” Smith said. “You dream of those moments. Extra innings, put your team ahead. I’ll remember that forever.”
The Blue Jays, chasing their first title in 32 years, came agonizingly close. They had runners on first and third in the final frame but watched helplessly as Alejandro Kirk grounded into a double play that ended their dream. Manager John Schneider summed it up with raw honesty: “It will hurt for a few days, a few weeks. When you’re that close, it’s tough to take.”
At the heart of it all was Yamamoto. The Japanese ace, pitching on no rest after six dominant innings in Game 6, came out of the bullpen to record the final eight outs. His effort earned him World Series MVP honors and cemented his place among baseball’s elite. “I was not sure if I could pitch tonight,” he admitted through his interpreter. “But I’m glad I was able to.”
Teammate Shohei Ohtani, who started the game but gave up a three-run homer to Bo Bichette, was among the first to embrace his compatriot. “I really believe he is the number one pitcher in the world,” Ohtani said.
The win was more than just a title. It marked the completion of a journey that began in Tokyo eight months earlier and ended triumphantly in Toronto. It also sent veteran legend Clayton Kershaw into retirement with a third ring and solidified Dave Roberts’ men as baseball’s modern dynasty.
As Yamamoto raised his arms skyward, the message was clear. The Dodgers are not just champions again. They are the standard everyone else must now chase.
