Toronto Blue Jays vs Los Angeles Dodgers
8:00 PM EDT, FOX
In the bottom of the 9th inning last night, I thought the Blue Jays were going to end the World Series in a matter of moments. The Dodgers were up, 3-1, with closer Roki Sasaki on the mound. But he had already pitched a fraught eighth inning and wasn’t looking so hot. He started the ninth by hitting Alejandro Kirk, then gave up a double to Addison Barger. Kirk would have scored on the play but the ball wedged under the fence and the runners were held up at second and third.
The Blue Jays had been down the entire game, but they looked like they had the magic in that moment. Sasaki was replaced by Tyler Glasnow, who was scheduled to be the game seven starter. Ernie Clement popped out for the first out. As number nine batter, Andrés Giménez, stepped to the plate, the camera panned to George Springer on deck. The announcers reminisced about Joe Carter’s World Series-ending walk-off homer.
But Springer didn’t get the chance to hit another important postseason home run. Giménez lined a ball to left field that looked like it might drop in for a hit. But Kiké Hernández raced in to catch the sinking liner and doubled Barger off second base to end the game.
It was a crazy, exciting ending to force game seven tonight. When the Blue Jays and Dodgers left Los Angeles to travel back to Toronto, I thought for sure the Blue Jays had it in the bag. But after last night’s ending, I am now convinced it’ll be the Dodgers to take the crown.
If momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher, the Dodgers are going all out by sending Shohei Ohtani to the mound. He replaces the scheduled starter, Glasnow, who threw three pitches last night. Don’t be surprised to also see Glasnow tonight. It’s game seven, baby. It’s all on the table.
The Blue Jays counter with legend Max Scherzer. Scherzer has made two postseason starts this year. Neither were exceptional, but both were better than we saw from him in the regular season. Could this be Scherzer’s final game in the majors? He is 41 years old, and had a pretty lousy year. This could be an incredible ending for him.