Going the Distance: Blue Jays drop 3-1 decision to Dodgers in Game 6 of World Series

TORONTO — Bad luck and a bad read.

Two big plays involving Addison Barger were the difference in a World Series that’s going the distance.

The Toronto Blue Jays nearly made a ninth-inning comeback but ended up dropping a 3-1 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 on Friday night.

With pinch-runner Myles Straw aboard, Barger belted a pitch from Dodgers closer Roki Sasaki that got wedged between the base of the wall and the warning track.

The ground-rule double left runners in scoring position with nobody out. But Tyler Glasnow got Ernie Clement on a pop-up and Andres Gimenez hit a sinking liner that was caught by Kike Hernandez, who doubled off Barger to end the game.

“I was being too aggressive,” Barger said. “Trying to score, trying to tie up that game (if) that ball drops. (He) got a good read on the ball and made a good play.”

There was some confusion among the 44,710 spectators as Straw and Barger crossed the plate. They had to return to the bases after the ground-rule call was upheld.

“Been here a long time,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “I haven’t seen a ball get lodged ever. Just caught a tough break there.”

The skipper tipped his hat to Hernandez and noted that second baseman Miguel Rojas made a nice pick, too.

“Wild way to finish it, for sure,” Schneider said.

With a tie game a possibility if the ball drops in, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was “praying” that Hernandez would get a good jump on it.

“Heck of a baseball player,” he said. “Heck of a play.”

Game 7 will be played Saturday night at Rogers Centre. Max Scherzer will get the start for the Blue Jays.

The Dodgers did not immediately name a starter. It’s possible that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani starts as an opener on short rest.

“Last game of the year,” Barger said. “So we’re going to absolutely play our butts off and give (it) all we’ve got.”

Blue Jays legend Devon White threw the ceremonial first pitch and a spirited version of “O Canada” — with many in the sellout crowd joining in — added to the electric atmosphere.

Toronto starter Kevin Gausman struck out the side in the first inning and fanned six of the first seven batters he faced before giving up three runs in the third.

Tommy Edman stroked a one-out double and scored when Will Smith golfed a ball into the left-field corner. Mookie Betts added a two-run single before Gausman escaped by striking out Teoscar Hernandez with two runners on base.

George Springer helped bring the crowd back to life in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single off Yoshinobu Yamamoto that drove in Barger.

Springer was back in the leadoff spot as designated hitter after missing two games with right side discomfort.

The Blue Jays had other chances but couldn’t convert. In the sixth, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-out double and Bo Bichette walked but Yamamoto struck out Daulton Varsho to snuff the threat.

Varsho also grounded out in the eighth against closer Roki Sasaki with two runners on in the eighth.

The result set up a winner-take-all showdown between two teams that finished one win apart in the regular season and have played like the league champions they are.

“To the fans I say, ‘See you tomorrow night. Be loud, be rowdy,'” Schneider said. “We’re going to be ready to play.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2025.