Dodgers drive World Collection to decisive Recreation 7 : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5648x3766+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0b%2F14%2F4e90a12145cfbb83dfee9e3d6768%2Fap25305051809619.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5648x3766+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0b%2F14%2F4e90a12145cfbb83dfee9e3d6768%2Fap25305051809619.jpg" class="img" alt="Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto gestures during the fourth inning in Game 6 of baseball's World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, on Friday in Toronto." fetchpriority="high"/> Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto gestures in the course of the fourth inning in Recreation 6 of baseball's World Collection in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays, on Friday in Toronto. Brynn Anderson/AP disguise caption

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Brynn Anderson/AP TORONTO — Yoshinobu Yamamoto beat Toronto for the second time in per week, slumping Mookie Betts hit a two-run single in a three-run third inning and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday night time to drive the World Collection to a decisive Recreation 7.

Yamamoto was not fairly as sharp as in his Recreation 2 four-hitter, the primary World Collection full recreation in a decade. He lasted six innings and allowed an RBI single within the third by George Springer, who returned after lacking two video games with an harm to his proper aspect.

Rookie relievers Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki mixed for six outs earlier than starter Tyler Glasnow got here out of the bullpen to flee a ninth-inning jam and rescue the Dodgers.

Glasnow wanted solely three pitches to do it. With runners on second and third and no one out, he bought Ernie Clement to pop up his first supply on the infield for a simple out. Andrés Giménez then hit a line drive to left subject that Kiké Hernández changed into a game-ending double play.

Hernández caught the ball on the run in shallow left-center and fired to second base, the place Miguel Rojas made a troublesome decide of a one-hop throw to double off Addison Barger.

"I used to be taking part in slightly extra shallow than the cardboard needed me to. However given the state of affairs, actually quick man at second base, I used to be like, what? I'll play actually, actually shallow. If he hits it over my head, kudos to him. I really feel like his pop is extra to the pull aspect," Hernández stated.

"In some way I used to be in a position to hear that the bat broke even with that crowd. The loopy factor is I had no concept the place the ball was as a result of it was within the lights the entire time. However given the state of affairs within the recreation, the World Collection on the road and the way good I used to be hitting tonight, I used to be like, it will hit me within the face — however I am not stopping. I am not pulling up. And on the very finish, the ball got here out of the lights and went into my glove."

It was the primary 7-4 game-ending double play in postseason historical past, in response to the Elias Sports activities Bureau.

"I gave him a very laborious throw to catch. I feel it was a greater decide than it was a play on my finish," Hernández stated.

Sasaki plunked Alejandro Kirk with an 0-2 pitch to start the inning, and Barger hit a ground-rule double to left-center that bought wedged on the backside of the wall.

That is when Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts summoned Glasnow.

"I simply felt proper there, Roki wasn't as sharp and I felt proper there, Glas is a man who has swing-and-miss stuff and I simply needed to wager on him," Roberts stated. "He is been chomping on the bit to make an impression."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3427x2285+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F96%2F47%2Fe30c2eae496f9bb33562b42cf685%2Fap25305039298214.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3427x2285+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F96%2F47%2Fe30c2eae496f9bb33562b42cf685%2Fap25305039298214.jpg" class="img" alt="Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts follows through on his two run base hit against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in Game 6 of baseball's World Series, on Friday in Toronto." loading="lazy"/> Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts follows by way of on his two run base hit in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays in the course of the third inning in Recreation 6 of baseball's World Collection, on Friday in Toronto. Ashley Landis/AP disguise caption

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Ashley Landis/AP Max Scherzer will begin Recreation 7 on Saturday night time for the Blue Jays. The three-time Cy Younger Award winner additionally began the final World Collection Recreation 7, getting a no-decision when Washington gained the 2019 title over Houston.

"These guys are actually good at form of simply turning the web page," Toronto supervisor John Schneider stated. "That can take some time to form of unpack. That is a wild ending. I really like the way in which we performed."

Glasnow had been lined as much as probably begin for the Dodgers, searching for to grow to be the primary workforce to win consecutive titles because the New York Yankees gained three straight from 1998-2000. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani additionally might be used as an opener.

"I feel proper now, there is not any fallacious reply," Roberts stated. "He is actually going to be part of the pitching plan, and with Shohei, it might be two innings, but it surely might be 4 innings. So I am undecided the place we will slot him. We will have to speak to him first on the place he feels most comfy."

Los Angeles saved alive its bid for a 3rd title in six seasons and its hopes to be acknowledged as a dynasty.

"Man, we stay for Recreation 7, so right here we go," Roberts stated.

Yamamoto, a 27-year-old right-hander in his second season with the Dodgers after successful three MVP awards in Japan, was coming off the primary consecutive postseason full video games since 2001.

He allowed one run and 5 hits with six strikeouts and a stroll, stranding two runners within the sixth when he struck out Daulton Varsho with a splitter on his 96th and last pitch. Yamamoto is 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA in 5 postseason begins and has a 1.20 ERA in his two Collection outings.

Kevin Gausman misplaced to Yamamoto for the second time regardless of matching a Collection file by hanging out eight within the first three innings behind a dominant splitter.

Tommy Edman doubled with one out within the third for the Dodgers' first hit. Ohtani was deliberately walked for the fifth time within the Collection and Will Smith hit an RBI double off the left-field wall on a excessive splitter.

Freddie Freeman walked, citing Betts. The three-time World Collection champion entered simply 3 for 23 within the Collection and had been dropped from second to 3rd within the lineup for Recreation 5. He was moved down one other slot to cleanup Friday, his lowest within the batting order since 2017.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3987x2658+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F27%2F417f791e43a0a42bee578fc8af6b%2Fap25305130590718.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3987x2658+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F27%2F417f791e43a0a42bee578fc8af6b%2Fap25305130590718.jpg" class="img" alt="Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) leaps into the arms of Kiké Hernández (8) after Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger, right, was forced out to end Game 6 of baseball's World Series, on Friday in Toronto." loading="lazy"/> Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) leaps into the arms of Kiké Hernández (8) after Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger, proper, was compelled out to finish Recreation 6 of baseball's World Collection, on Friday in Toronto. Ashley Landis/AP disguise caption

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Ashley Landis/AP Behind 1-2 within the rely, Betts fouled off two pitches and laced Gausman's third straight fastball between shortstop and third for a 3-0 lead. That ended an 0-for-13 stretch with the bases loaded for the Dodgers that dated to the Division Collection.

"Actually, man, I do know it hasn't been nice for me," Betts stated. "However this 12 months actually hasn't been nice. I simply wish to be there to assist the boys. I got here up in an enormous spot. ... I simply was capable of finding a technique to lock in."

Searching for their first World Collection title since 1993, the Blue Jays wore powder blue uniforms at house for the primary time since September after getting wins with them in Video games 4 and 5 in LA.

Toronto scored when Barger doubled to start out the third and got here round on Springer's two-out single.

Gausman gave up three runs and 6 hits in six innings, getting 15 swings and misses together with his splitter.

Sasaki, a starter turned reliever because the Dodgers tried to shore up their bullpen, escaped a two-on, one-out jam within the eighth by retiring Bo Bichette on a foulout and Varsho on a groundout.

Up subsequent Scherzer and Glasnow began Recreation 3, gained by the Dodgers 6-5 in 18 innings. A 41-year-old right-hander, Scherzer will grow to be the fourth pitcher to start out a number of World Collection winner-take-all Recreation 7s after Bob Gibson (1964, '67, '68), Lew Burdette and Don Larsen (each 1957 and '58). Scherzer allowed two runs over 5 innings for Washington in opposition to Houston in 2019, and the Nationals rallied for a 6-2 win.