Pins and needles at Rogers Centre Saturday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers powered past the Toronto Blue Jays, tying the World Series at a game apiece with a 5-1 victory that reminded everyone why October baseball is the greatest show on earth.
From the first pitch, tension hung thick in the air. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, cool as a veteran despite the weight of the Fall Classic, took the mound for Los Angeles and promptly put on a pitching clinic. He surrendered just one run over nine innings, the first World Series complete game in a decade, and brushed off early nerves to settle into a relentless rhythm. Yamamoto admitted after the game, “I racked up my pitch count early on, but I took it one inning by one inning, and I think I was executing my pitches very well today.” That’s the kind of grit you need in a World Series.
The Blue Jays answered back in the third, with Alejandro Kirk’s sacrifice fly putting Toronto on the board and electrifying the crowd. But every surge was met by cold Dodgers efficiency. Will Smith made his presence felt, driving in three runs—including a solo home run that reclaimed the lead for Los Angeles. Max Muncy followed up, crushing a towering homer to extend the Dodgers’ cushion. Kevin Gausman, making his World Series debut for Toronto, retired 17 straight before faltering in the seventh, showing flashes of brilliance amid mounting Dodgers pressure.
Even with the loss, you couldn’t fault the spirit inside Rogers Centre. The fans stood for every moment, fuelled by hope and pride. Toronto manager John Schneider praised Gausman’s effort, noting his track record when given extra rest. Entertainment and emotion ran high, from the Jonas Brothers’ performance to the Stand Up To Cancer tribute that united fans and players alike in a moment of real meaning.
Now, with the series shifting to Los Angeles and Max Scherzer set to start for the Jays, the stakes have only climbed higher. Both clubs have shown their fight. If Game 2 is any indication, this classic is just heating up.
