A LATE-GAME FIASCO TURNED THE WORLD SERIES INTO A PIPE DREAM FOR THE JAYS
The 2025 World Series has come to an end after the most exciting seven-game series. The Toronto Blue Jays, with all of Canada on their backs, have been devastatingly defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The heartbreaking late-game finish had fans all across the country on the brink of tears, with what could have been the first Blue Jays World Series victory since 1993.
Extra innings did not go in the Jays’ favour as Yamamoto took the mound, and the unlikely Will Smith crushed the dreams of the Blue Jays.
To start the World Series, legendary and future Hall-of-Fame pitcher Max Scherzer started for the Jays, and the best baseball player of all time, Shohei Ohtani, started for the Dodgers. Starting the pitching duel, and ensuing an epic pitching battle for both teams, who showcased all their top talent on the mound in game seven of the World Series.
After a scoreless first two innings on both sides, the bottom of the third inning had something special in store for the Jays. With George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on base, Bo Bichette stepped up at bat. Wasting no time, Bichette took Ohtani’s pitch deep into center, flying over the wall for a monstrous three-run home run.
In the top of the fourth inning, with only one out and bases loaded for the Dodgers, Teoscar Hernández hit a line drive into shallow center field. Still, a diving catch from Dalton Varsho saved a few potential runs, and the Blue Jays would end the inning with another diving catch from Guerrero Jr.
Two innings later, the Dodgers chipped away at the Blue Jays’ lead as Tommy Edman brought in Mookie Betts with a sacrifice fly ball in center field.
At the bottom of the inning, the speedy Ernie Clement was ready to score from second base as Andrés Giménez got his revenge from the fourth inning, driving the ball deep into the outfield, and the Blue Jays held a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the eighth inning, Trey Yesavage was struggling to command the strike zone, and Max Muncy took advantage, hitting a clutch home run for the Dodgers, decreasing the Jays’ lead to just one.
The Toronto Blue Jays found themselves just two outs away from a World Series, but as fate would have it, Jeff Hoffman versus Miguel Rojas of the Dodgers. The pitch count was full, the crowd on their feet, but Rojas would connect on the low curveball, tying the game up 4-4.
The all-star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the bases were loaded for the Jays with just one out. Dalton Varsho at bat, Isiah Kiner-Falefa on third base, ready to score the game-winning run, the Rogers Center filled with angst.
The count was one ball, two strikes, with the next pitch from Yamamoto looking to haunt the Blue Jays for all of eternity. Varsho hit a ground ball to second baseman Rojas, and Kiner-Falefa, with a shy leadoff on third, Kiner-Falefa did not beat the throw and was ruled out by inches at the plate in what could have easily been the World Series win.
Clement’s at bat was filled with hope, after having a phenomenal game thus far, but a deep flyball was miraculously caught by Andy Pages, sending the World Series into extra innings.
In the top of the 11th inning, Will Smith gave the Dodgers a 5-4 lead with a home run, and the Blue Jays’ World Series would turn into a pipe dream. Leadoff double from Guerrero was in vain, unable to make it home, ending the game with a double play, and the Toronto Blue Jays lost the 2025 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
An absolutely heartbreaking moment for fans, so close yet so far away. It is with absolute hope and yearning that I think this team has it in them for another World Series run next season, until then…
