Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers earn back-to-back World Series title in Game 7 thriller over Blue Jays

The Dodgers seemed fated to be back-to-back champions and on Saturday night, they cemented it.

It what was another extra innings drama-filled night, Yoshinobu Yamamoto forced Alejandro Kirk to ground into a double play in the bottom of the 11th inning for a 5-4 Dodgers World Series win at Rogers Centre in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Will Smith had an answer in the top of the 11th, hitting a solo home run to left field in the top of the 11th, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 lead. All Yamamoto had to do was defend it, and he did.

The win cements the Dodgers as the first team to go back-to-back since the 2000 New York Yankees

It was the third Game 7 in MLB history that went on 11 innings or more. The others came in 1924 and 1997.

The victory didn’t come easy.

It was all built after the Blue Jays had the game practically in their hands in the bottom of the ninth inning when the score was tied up at 4.

With bases loaded and one out against Yamamoto, Daulton Varsho grounded into a force out with Isiah Kiner-Falefa getting thrown out at home. Ernie Clement then followed with fly out to deep center field saved by Andy Pages, sending the game into extras.

Earlier, Miguel Rojas hit a clinch solo homer in the top of the ninth inning off of Blue Jay’s Jeff Hoffman to tie the game as the Dodgers stared their World Series nightmare in the face.

Toronto got off to a hot start in the third inning and took a 3-0 lead thanks to a Bo Bichette three-run home run off of Ohtani, who was pulled from the game immediately after.

Not according to the Dodgers’ plan, Ohtani only threw for 2⅓ innings. He tallied three strikeouts, two walks, and gave up three earned runs.

It was a fiery Game 7 — the first since 2019 — with the benches clearing in the fourth inning.