The road to becoming the first repeater World Series Champion 25 years haven't been smooth sailing Dodgerswho captured their ninth championship in franchise history by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5–4 in 11 innings. Game 7 for the ages.
After winning nine of their first 10 postseason contests, the Dodgers had to endure a seven-game World Series that included two extra-inning victories—one in 18 innings—and back-to-back losses at home that put their season on the brink.
But in the end, the Dodgers won their second championship in a row and third in six seasons. How did they do it? Here are some of the things that propelled the Dodgers to another World Series triumph.
Great escape with a wheel
Mookie Betts expressed the idea of wheel game as the Dodgers held on for dear life in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Ballpark. In a nod to the fundamentals, Max Muncy pounced on a bunt and Betts struck out the leadoff runner at third base to help the Dodgers survive the ninth inning and take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five series.
Ohtani's famous performance
Take a look at the three home runs Shohei Ohtani hit in Game 4 of the NLCS.
Based on the first inning only, Shohei Ohtani he would deliver a memorable performance in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out three straight after his first walk as the Dodgers' starting pitcher and then striking out as his team's first batter to take the lead. But Ohtani hit two more hits, including a shot 469 feet over the right field pavilion, and then scored 10 in six innings to help the Dodgers secure their second straight National League pennant.
Another complete game from Yamamoto.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already played a full game. Game 2 of the NLCSthe first Dodgers pitcher since Jose Lima in 2004. But Yamamoto entered a rarer atmosphere when he threw another pitch in Game 2 of the World Series in 5-1 win over Blue Jays — becoming the first Dodger to throw back-to-back complete games in the postseason since Orel Hershiser in 1988.
Kershaw moment
Longing and grief Clayton KershawThe player's postseason history is well known, and the crowd at Dodger Stadium braced itself when he entered Game 3 of the World Series with the bases loaded and two outs in the 12th inning. In an eight-pitch battle with the Jays' Nathan Lux, Kershaw hit a soft hit to second baseman Tommy Edman, which he had to charge and glove first baseman Freddie Freeman to avoid a jam.
Will Klein's Game
When Game 3 of the World Series reached the 15th inning, the Dodgers turned to Will Kleinthe last pitcher in their bullpen – although Yamamoto later prepared for a potential 19th inning. Klein, acquired by the Dodgers in a minor trade on June 2, threw 72 pitches — more than he threw as a pro — over four scoreless innings to keep the Dodgers in the game.
Freeman, sequel to “Getting Away”
IN World Series Game 3 featuring 19 pitchers, 25 position players, 609 pitches and 153 hits at the plate, it was something familiar that won the Dodgers in the 18th inning: Freeman home run. A year and two days after it the iconic grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World SeriesFreeman hit a single to center field to lift the Dodgers to a 6–5 victory and a 2–1 series lead.
Kike Hernandez, hero of October
Left Fielder Kike Hernandez added another chapter to his October legacy in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6 as the Dodgers tried to hold a 3–1 lead and keep their season alive. With runners on second and third and one out, Hernandez played shallow and was in good position to catch Andres Jimenez's hit on a sinking line before throwing to the second baseman. Miguel Rojaswho caught him on the rebound and doubled the runner in the second. and force game 7.
Miguel Rojas, hero of the ninth inning
Rojas became ninth-inning coordinator in game 7 when he came out to bat with the Dodgers trailing 4-3 and two outs from losing the World Series. Rojas, who had one homer since the All-Star break, worked a full count before hitting a game-tying shot to left field. In the bottom of the inning, with the bases loaded and the infield open with one out, Rojas fielded a grounder cleanly and fired to force a runner at home and preserve the tie.
Catch
One batter later, with the bases still loaded, it was Andy Pages' turn to be the defensive hero. Inserted in the middle of the inning in center field with his strong arm, Pages found himself using his legs to cover most of the ground on a deep fly ball to left-center that Hernandez tried to catch over his shoulder before colliding with Pages as the center fielder grabbed the ball to send the game into extra innings.
Will Smith, Home Run Hero
When Game 7 entered the 11th inning, it was the catcher. Will Smith who was in the right place at the right time. Smith, who returned to the lineup after breaking his right hand in September, hit a 2-0 slider for his second home run of the series to give the Dodgers the lead for the first time in the game.
Yamamoto with exclamation point
Entering Game 7 during that ninth-inning jam that Rojas and the Pages helped him avoid, Yamamoto retired the Jays in order in the 10th and then served up a leadoff double in the 11th, pitching a sacrifice bunt and then walking the batter before inducing a double play to clinch the Dodgers' repeat championship. For Yamamoto in the World Seriesthe final tally was three wins, the last of which came in relief after throwing 96 pitches in Game 6 the night before, and the MVP award.
