Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the Blue Jays to a 6-2 win, and an even series
LOS ANGELES, CA — The 2025 World Series will be going back to Toronto, with the Blue Jays taking Game 3 by a score of 6-2.
WP: Bieber (2-0, 3.57)
LP: Ohtani (2-1, 3.50)
Shohei Ohtani lead off the game on the mound by getting two quick outs, but a walk and an infield single put the Blue Jays in business. The opportunity was waisted when Alejandro Kirk popped out to first base to end the inning.
Shohei Ohtani then lead off the bottom half of the inning with a walk, his 6th in his past 6 at-bats. A Fly out, Groundout and Line out would strand the runner on base.
Ohtani pitched a 1–2–3 2nd inning on just 7 pitches.
The Dodgers would take a 1–0 lead on a sac fly by Kiké Hernandez, after a 1-out walk to Muncy and a 1-out single to Edman. Kiké Hernandez has always been known as a postseason riser, and he showed that getting the first run tonight.
Shohei Ohtani would relinquish the lead in the top of the third inning, giving up a two-run home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. It was Guerrero Jr.’s first home run of the series for Toronto and with George Springer out of the lineup, someone needs to step up, and Vladdy is showing he is up to the task.
Shane Bieber then worked a shutdown inning in the bottom of the third, including striking out Shohei Ohtani, retiring him for the first time since Saturday.
Ohtani would then strike out the side in the fourth inning to quiet the Blue Jays offense for a bit and help get the Dodgers back into it.
Outside of an Edman two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth inning, Shane Bieber was showing that he was getting into a bit of a rhythm, retiring the center of the Dodgers order.
Ohtani would work a scoreless fifth inning around a 2 out single by Lukes — who was 2-3 from the lead off spot — getting Guerrero Jr. to fly out and end the inning.
Shane Bieber continued his rhythm in the bottom of the fifth inning, retiring the side in order.
Shohei Ohtani would put up another 0 in the 6th inning, preserving the 2-1 score. Ohtani pitched really well thought the game, the only blemish being the 2-run shot from Guerrero Jr. in the 3rd inning.
Shane Bieber would have his day end with 2 on and 1 out in the bottom of the sixth inning after 3 consecutive hard-hit balls, 2 falling in for hits. Mason Fluharty would come up big for the Blue Jays, coming into the game and getting a first pitch fly out from Max Muncy and a strikeout of Tommy Edman to end the threat.
Ohtani would face a similar fate in the seventh inning, allowing a single and a double, putting runners on second and third, no outs, to lead off the seventh inning. That would end his day, and Dave Roberts would go to Anthony Banda to keep this a 1-run game. He did not. An RBI single by Gimenez would give Toronto a 3-1 lead. Banda would then give up an RBI groundout to Gimenez, and be pulled from the game.
Blake Treinen came in to try and clean up the mess, and he can’t either, allowing two RBI singles, one by Bichette and the other by Barger. Treinen has been really bad this postseason, allowing 12 of the 25 hitters he has faced to reach base.
The Blue Jays would call on regular season starter Chris Bassitt to pitch the seventh inning, and he would pitch a 1-2-3 inning. Shohei Ohtani was 0-3 with a walk after his groundout to 2nd base.
Dreyer would bend, but not break in the top of the eighth inning, allowing two baserunners, but got a strikeout of pinch-hitter Miles Straw to end the inning.
Chris Bassitt continued his dominance out of the Toronto bullpen, after allowing a leadoff single to Betts, getting Freeman to strike out and Smith to ground into an inning ending double play.
Dreyer stayed in for the top of the ninth inning, and had traffic throughout the inning on Guerrero Jr.’s second hit of the ballgame to lead off the inning, but got a strikeout of Varsho to end the top of the ninth.
The Dodgers were not able to complete the rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring a run on an RBI groundout by Edman against Louis Varland. Varland has struggled a bit in this World Series, giving up 7 hits and 2 walks in 3 appearances, but was able to preserve the 5-run 9th inning lead.
Game 5 will be a repeat pitching matchup of Game 1, Blake Snell vs. Trea Yesavage. It will be the final home game for the Dodgers this postseason, as Game 6, which could be a clinching game, will be in Toronto on Friday.
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