TORONTO — In a dramatic finish that baseball fans will remember for decades, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5–4 in 11 innings late Saturday night to secure their second straight World Series championship. With the win, the Dodgers became the first team in 25 years to repeat as champions, joining elite company in Major League Baseball history.
The night had all the elements of a classic — late heroics, improbable escapes, and emotional roller-coasters that swung momentum back and forth until the final out.
Los Angeles trailed 3–0 in the early innings after a fatigued Shohei Ohtani surrendered a three-run blast to Bo Bichette in the third. It appeared the Dodgers were headed for heartbreak, struggling to generate enough offense while Toronto’s crowd roared through a deafening charge.
But in the late stages, the Dodgers showed the resiliency that defined their season. Max Muncy cut the deficit with a solo shot in the eighth, and in the ninth, Miguel Rojas delivered the swing that changed everything — a stunning game-tying home run to left field, his first against a right-handed pitcher all year. Rogers Centre fell silent instantly.
Still, the drama escalated. In the bottom of the ninth, Toronto loaded the bases, threatening to walk off as champions. The Dodgers turned to Yoshinobu Yamamoto — less than 24 hours removed from a 96-pitch outing — in an emergency situation. A ground ball to Rojas resulted in a force-out at the plate, followed by a collision-filled catch in deep left-center to miraculously extend the game.
After Los Angeles missed a bases-loaded opportunity in the tenth, catcher Will Smith delivered in the eleventh, launching a hanging slider over the left-field wall to give the Dodgers their first lead of the night.
Yamamoto returned to the mound once more, forcing a game-ending double play to shortstop Mookie Betts — sealing his World Series MVP performance. The 26-year-old right-hander threw three pressure-packed innings on limited rest, leaving teammates and executives stunned.
“I didn’t know anyone could do what he just did,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said afterward.
The title comes after a season in which the Dodgers faced heavy scrutiny for their payroll, injury setbacks in the rotation, and inconsistent stretches offensively. Yet the clubhouse never fractured.
“We just kept believing in each other, one pitch at a time,” Smith said.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, came inches from ending their 31-year championship drought, only to watch their lead slip away in crushing fashion.
With the victory, the Dodgers have now won three championships in six years, solidifying their place among baseball’s most successful modern franchises. Manager Dave Roberts, soaked in champagne, acknowledged the magnitude of the moment.
“We’ve put together something pretty special,” he said. “Let others decide what to call it. We’re proud of what we’ve built.”
For Los Angeles, this wasn’t merely about talent. It was about culture, leadership — and an unwavering belief that no moment is too big.
On a night when destiny nearly slipped away, the Dodgers refused to fold. And now, they stand alone at the summit once again.