It had to be this way. There was never going to be another ending. Of course this season was destined to come down to Game 7.
The Toronto Blue Jays fell 3–1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series, setting up a winner-take-all finale tonight at Rogers Centre. A champion will be crowned, a season will end, and no matter which way it goes, Blue Jays fans will be damn proud of what this team has accomplished.
Game 6 was a pitcher’s duel through and through. Kevin Gausman was brilliant, surrendering just a three-run third inning before locking in and dominating the rest of the night. George Springer — the warrior that he is — clearly wasn’t 100 percent, but still battled through every at-bat and drove in the Jays’ only run.
But none of that, nor anything that came before the ninth inning, will be what people remember. No, this one will be remembered for an ending that was equal parts enthralling, chaotic, and heartbreaking.
Facing Rōki Sasaki for the second straight inning, the Blue Jays did what they do best: rally. Sasaki had already thrown more than 20 pitches in the eighth when Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Addison Barger followed with a drive into the left-center gap — a double that looked like it would change everything.
Then, confusion.
The ball lodged in the wall — something rarely, if ever, seen at Rogers Centre. The Dodgers outfielders raised their hands, seemingly unsure what to do, and the Jays’ runners rounded the bases as chaos broke out. For a few fleeting seconds, it looked like the Jays had completed another magical comeback. But then came the ruling: ground-rule double. Kirk back to third. Barger to second. No runs.
Even still, runners on second and third, nobody out — this was the moment. The Dodgers had to summon Game 7’s projected starter, Tyler Glasnow, in desperation. The stage was set for another Jays walk-off.
But baseball, as it so often does, found a cruel way to twist the story.
Ernie Clement popped up on the first pitch, freezing the runners. Then Andrés Giménez lined one to shallow left — off the bat, it looked destined to fall, a .710 expected batting average kind of swing — but Kiké Hernández made the catch. And before anyone could process it, he fired to second base, catching Barger too far off the bag. Game over.
It was a stunning, painful way to lose one of the biggest games in franchise history. But Barger’s misstep came from effort, not negligence — a player trying to make something happen, not avoiding the moment. That’s what this team has been about all year: heart, belief, and never backing down.
And so, as gutting as it was, maybe it’s fitting that this ride ends the way it began — with their backs against the wall, one last test of resilience. One more night under the lights at Rogers Centre. One more chance to make history.
It had to be this way.
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