For the Los Angeles Dodgers, a trio of clutch home runs, a pair of dazzling defensive plays and Yoshinobu Yamamoto's lights-out pitching in relief produced a thrilling 5-4, 11-inning victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
The Dodgers became the first team to repeat as World Series champion since the New York Yankees won their third in a row in 2000.
Speaking to reporters after the game on Saturday night, November 1, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reflected on his team's dramatic path to victory.
"I'm just really elated and really proud of our team, our guys, the way we fought, and we've done something that hasn't been done in decades," said Roberts.
"There [were] so many pressure points and how that game could have flipped. 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, and it's one of the greatest games I've ever been a part of and this whole series. And what the Blue Jays did, they gave us everything they had and [are] just such a first-class organization."
Yamamoto Selected as World Series MVP
Yamamoto was named World Series MVP. He became the second Japanese player to earn the prestigious award. Hidei Matsui (New York Yankees) was the MVP of the 2009 Fall Classic.
Yamamoto earned wins as the starting pitcher in Game 2 (a complete game, four hits, one run and eight strikeouts) and Game 6 (one run in six innings in a 96-pitch outing) over the Blue Jays. And then, with no days' rest, Yamamoto was back on the mound in a pressure-packed situation in a winner-take-all Game 7. He pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings, enhancing his reputation as a big-game pitcher.
"I didn't have real confidence about whether I could pitch until going to the bullpen [to warm up]," Yamamoto said after Game 7, according to Kyodo News.
He added, "I did everything I could and I'm really happy to have won with this team."
Yamamoto was 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA in six postseason games.
"We needed a next-level performance from Yamamoto and we got it," Roberts said.
The Path to Victory for LA
Toronto starter Max Scherzer pitched 4⅓ innings, giving up four hits and one run. The 41-year-old was the oldest starting pitcher for a World Series Game 7 in history.
With one out in the third inning, Bo Bichette's three-run homer to center on a hanging sider from Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani produced the first runs of the game. It was a 442-foot (135-meter) blast.
Ohtani was immediately replaced by left-hander Justin Wrobleski, the first of five LA relievers on this night. The reigning National League MVP remained in the game as the designated hitter. He allowed five hits and three runs in 2⅓ innings, walking two and striking out three.
Ohtani contributed at the plate with a 2-for-5 effort and a walk. He finished the World Series tied with Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr for the most home runs (eight).
Little by little, the Dodgers chipped away at the lead. They added a run in the fourth to pull within 3-1 and cut it to 3-2 in the top of the sixth.
Then the Blue Jays extended their advantage to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, with Andres Gimenez stroking an RBI double to right off reliever Tyler Glasnow.
The drama was far from finished, though.
With one out in the eighth, LA pulled within 4-3 on a Max Muncy solo blast off 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage, the Game 5 winner.
'The Biggest Hit He's Ever Had in His Life'
And with one out in the ninth, No 9 hitter Miguel Rojas, the Dodgers' popular veteran second baseman from Venezuela, stepped into the batter's box.
Were the Dodgers moments away from being dethroned?
"Obviously, it doesn't look great at that moment, but I trust him to take the at-bat," Roberts told reporters later.
That trust paid off.
Rojas ripped a 3-2 slider off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman. The high fly down the left-field line traveled 387 feet (118 meters), a homer that silenced Canadian fans at Rogers Centre and across the nation. Rojas' homer made it 4-4.
It was the first tying or winning homer in the ninth inning of a World Series Game 7 since October 13, 1960. On that day, Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates smacked a game-ending solo blast to beat the visiting Yankees, 10-9, at Forbes Field.
"He got a pitch that he could handle and hit the biggest hit he's ever had in his life," Roberts said.
In the euphoric aftermath of the title-winning game, Roberts also talked about Rojas' positive contributions to the Dodgers throughout the season.
"I talk about [how] the game honors you and right there the game honored him," the manager said. "He does things the right way and he deserved that moment."
Hoffman spoke about the game-changing play later.
"It sucks, [it's] supposed to end differently. … I cost everybody in here a World Series ring," Hoffman said, according to the Toronto Sun.
Working Out of a Jam
In the bottom of the ninth, aiming to earn a walk-off win, the Blue Jays got two men on base off reliever Blake Snell, LA's fifth pitcher of the night.
After Bichette's line-drive single and Addison Barger's walk, Roberts opted to bring in Yamamoto.
That decision paid off.
Pressed into action with the score knotted at 4-4 a day after LA's must-win performance on Halloween, Yamamoto worked out of a jam in the bottom of the ninth. After hitting the first batter he faced (Alejandro Kirk) in the forearm to load the bases, Yamamoto settled down.
Daulton Varsho hit a grounder to second baseman Rojas, who made a strong throw to the plate after nearly stumbling. Catcher Will Smith completed the forceout on Isiah Kiner-Falefa at the plate. Ernie Clement then flied out to deep center (a leaping grab by Pages, who collided into left fielder Kike Hernandez) for the third out, and the Blue Jays stranded three runners on base.
A Squandered Scoring Opportunity for the Dodgers
The Dodgers threatened to score in the 10th. With one out, Mookie Betts walked and Muncy followed with a line-drive single up the middle off Dominican reliever Seranthony Dominguez. And Teoscar Hernandez walked to load the bases.
Andy Pages hit into a forceout, with Blue Jays shortstop Gimenez making a speedy throw to catcher Kirk for the forceout at the plate. Kike Hernandez then grounded out to first baseman Guerrero to keep the Dodgers from adding a run in the 10th.
Yamamoto worked a 1–2-3 10th inning, retiring Gimenez, George Springer (who batted .381 in the World Series) and Myles Straw in order.
Springer, who was appearing in his 83rd career postseason game and was 3-for-6 on the night, chased a 3-2 splitter. Yamamoto's perfectly executed pitch darted low and away out of the strike zone.
Smith Breaks 4-4 Tie in the 11th
In the top of the 11th, Rojas and Ohtani hit groundouts, the latter coming on a broken-bat one-hopper off Blue Jays reliever Shane Bieber, the winning starter in Game 4.
On a 2-0 offering from Bieber, Smith smacked the ball over the left-field wall.
And suddenly, the Dodgers had their first lead of the game.
A Dramatic Conclusion to Game 7
Guerrero led off the bottom of the 11th with a line-drive double to left. Kiner-Falefa followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt.
Barger walked to put runners at the corners with one out.
Up next: Kirk. On Yamamoto's 0-2 pitch, a split-finger fastball, Kirk hit a sharp grounder to shortstop Betts. The veteran star stepped on second base and rifled the ball to Freddie Freeman at first to complete the unassisted double play.
Game over. The Dodgers won. Champions again.
Moments later, Roberts hugged Yamamoto amidst the team's joyous celebrations.
High Praise for World Series Hero Yamamoto
Roberts later talked about how Yamamoto handles his mound duties, noting that his strength is more than just a polished pitching repertoire.
"He uses his body very efficiently," Roberts said in the postgame news conference. "It's the whole engine that works and not just the arm. So he's just very efficient with his delivery."
There are several factors that make Yamamoto a successful pitcher, according to Roberts. He's someone who's always willing to pitch, even with no rest.
"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," the manager commented. "I just haven't seen it, I really haven't."
Dodgers catcher Smith also commented on Yamamoto's performance in Game 7.
"That was special what he did," Smith told ESPN Radio, adding, "that's just pure fight out of him. He's a fighter, [and] he's one of the best pitchers on the planet, and he showed it."
World Series Talk
Are the Dodgers a championship dynasty?
They've now won three World Series titles in six seasons (2020, 2024 and '25).
"We've put together something pretty special, I do know that," winning manager Roberts said at the press conference. "I'm proud of the players for the fans, scouting, player development, all the stuff. To do what we've done in this span of time is pretty remarkable. I guess let the pundits and all the fans talk about if it's a dynasty or not, but I'm pretty happy with where we're at."
RELATED:
- World Series: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Shines as Dodgers Force Game 7
- ODDS and EVENS | In the World Series, Toronto Rookie Trey Yesavage Makes His Mark
- World Series: Blue Jays Capitalize on Timely Hits in Game 4
- ODDS and EVENS | Yoshinobu Yamamoto Tosses a Gem in World Series Game 2
- World Series: Blue Jays Trounce Dodgers in Game 1
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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