Los Angeles Dodgers win World Series, defeat Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 classic

In an unforgettable winner-take-all Game 7, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in an 11-inning early morning classic on Sunday to become back-to-back World Series champions.

Trailing 4-3 with one out in the top of the ninth inning, Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas hit a solo home run to tie the game at four runs apiece and send the game into extra innings.

Then, in the top of the 11th inning, Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a solo home run to seal the extraordinary comeback victory.

The Dodgers became the first repeat champion since the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000, and in doing so denied the Blue Jays their first title since 1993.

The Dodgers trailed 3-2 in the series, rallying and winning the final two games in Toronto to calm a stunned home crowd.

LA overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-2 and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw 96 pitches in the Dodgers’ victory Friday, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and pitched 2 2/3 innings for his third victory of the series.

He gave up a double in the 11th to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was sacrificed to third. Addison Barger walked and Alejandro Kirk grounded to shortstop Mookie Betts, who led into a game-winning 6-4-3 double play.

With their ninth title and third in six years, the Dodgers made a case for their 2020s teams to be considered a dynasty. Dave Roberts, their manager since 2016, has increased his chances of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Bo Bichette gave Toronto the lead in the third with a three-run homer off two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who was pitching on three days’ rest after suffering the loss in Game 3.

LA closed to 3-2 on sacrifice flies by Teoscar Hernández in the fourth against Max Scherzer and Tommy Edman in the sixth against Chris Bassitt.

Andrés Giménez restored Toronto’s two-run lead with an RBI double in the sixth against Tyler Glasnow, who relieved after getting the final three outs on three pitches to save Game 6 Friday.

Max Muncy’s eighth-inning home run off star rookie Trey Yesavage cut the Dodgers’ deficit to one run, and Rojas, inserted into the lineup in Game 6 to provide some energy, homered on a complete slider from Jeff Hoffman.

Toronto put two up with one out in the bottom half against Blake Snell, and Los Angeles turned to Yamamoto.

He hit Alejandro Kirk on one hand with a pitch, loading the bases and prompting the Dodgers to play the infield and shallow outfield. Daulton Varsho got to second, where Rojas fumbled but managed to get home for a force out as catcher Smith kept his foot on home plate.

Ernie Clement then flew out to Andy Pages, who took a backhand jump to the center field warning track as he grounded to left fielder Kiké Hernández.

Seranthony Domínguez walked Mookie Betts with one out in the 10th and Muncy singled for his third hit. Hernández walked, loading the bases. Pages grounded to shortstop, where Giménez threw home for a force out. First baseman Guerrero then threw to pitcher Seranthony Domínguez the cover at first, narrowly beating Hernández on a call confirmed in a video review.

This epic night matched the Marlins’ 3-2 victory over Cleveland in 1997 and became the second-longest game in the Series 7, trailing only the Washington Senators’ 4-3 victory over the New York Giants in 1924.

The game was, as expected, tense, with the benches and bullpens clearing after Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski hit Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez on the right hand with a pitch in the fourth inning.

After the players returned to their benches and bullpens, the officials briefly huddled before crew chief Mark Wegner issued a warning to both dugouts.

Ohtani started the game, but was removed from the mound after allowing a three-run homer to Bo Bichette in the third inning. Pitching on three days’ rest, Ohtani reached 100.9 mph with his fastball but appeared to run out of steam in the third.

Ohtani allowed three runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings before being replaced by left-hander Justin Wrobleski. Ohtani walked two and struck out three.

Earlier, Ohtani became the first pitcher to get a hit in a World Series Game 7 since Jesse Orosco of the New York Mets in 1986.

He hit a single to center off Toronto’s Max Scherzer to start the game, moved to second on a ground ball and advanced to third on a fly ball, but was stranded when Mookie Betts grounded out.