With Sequence headed again to Toronto, Dodgers able to battle in must-win Sport 6 – MLB.com

Sonja Chen
LOS ANGELES — Because the Dodgers performed out their ultimate inning at Dodger Stadium this 12 months, an remoted voice in what had been a sellout crowd tried to get a chant going: "The Sequence isn't over!"
That drew some scattered cheers, however they quickly pale again into the resigned feeling that had permeated the ballpark environment properly earlier than the Dodgers' 6-1 loss in Sport 5 of the World Sequence was ultimate.
It was already a on condition that the Fall Basic can be determined in Toronto, with the Sequence tied at two video games apiece heading into Wednesday night's contest. However hastily, the Blue Jays are one win away from a championship whereas the Dodgers are on the brink, going through elimination for the primary time because the 2024 NL Division Sequence.
"I believe there's extra in there. I do know there's extra in there," supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. "We've gained two video games in a row, however once more, it simply comes down to at least one sport. I believe that now we have been in plenty of elimination video games, and we discovered a option to get to the opposite aspect."
Historical past is in opposition to the Dodgers. In any best-of-seven postseason collection tied 2-2, the Sport 5 winner has gained the collection 46 of 68 occasions (67.6%). In collection with the present 2-3-2 format, groups taking a 3-2 lead by profitable Sport 5 on the highway — earlier than returning residence for Video games 6 and seven — have gone on to win the collection 20 of 27 occasions (74.1%).
Odds are merely odds in any case, and the Dodgers have crushed them earlier than. Then once more, they misplaced Sport 5 in no small half as a result of they discovered themselves on the fallacious aspect of World Sequence historical past.
The primary three pitches of the ballgame largely set the tone for the remainder of the night. Blake Snell caught an excessive amount of of the plate on a first-pitch fastball to Davis Schneider, who despatched it crusing into the left-field seats. Snell made the same mistake two pitches later, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made him pay, marking the primary time in World Sequence historical past a group has gone back-to-back to guide off a sport.
"First pitch of the sport, fastball up and in. It’s 98 and up. Unfortunate," Snell mentioned. "After which Vlad, that’s only a unhealthy pitch."
Then the Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage took the mound for a history-making efficiency of his personal. Apart from giving up a solo homer to Kiké Hernández within the third inning, Yesavage was firmly in command.
Yesavage carved by the Dodgers' lineup throughout seven innings, rewriting a rookie World Sequence report that had not been touched in 76 years with 12 strikeouts, dethroning Don Newcombe (11 in 1949 with the Brooklyn Dodgers). The 22-year-old righty scattered three hits and didn’t situation a stroll.
The bullpen was leaky once again, nevertheless it didn't actually matter after a lineup shakeup did nothing to revitalize the offense. The Dodgers know they're able to being higher, however they’ve restricted time to determine issues out.
If the Dodgers can take something away from being down 2-1 within the 2024 NLDS, then coming again to win the World Sequence, it's that they should hold preventing. They be ok with their probabilities of forcing a Sport 7, particularly with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound in a winner-take-all Sport 6.
"We've had our backs in opposition to the wall loads this 12 months," Will Smith mentioned. "Preventing by accidents, preventing by expectations and all that. This can be a powerful group, and I bought no downside getting in there and profitable two video games."
Past Yamamoto, who's coming off back-to-back full video games, the Dodgers ought to have all fingers on deck if the collection goes the gap. Shohei Ohtani could be available in relief beginning with Sport 6. Tyler Glasnow is lined as much as begin Sport 7, and Snell mentioned he would even be out there in some capability.
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The rotation has been the Dodgers' energy this postseason, and the Blue Jays' skill to choose it aside has performed no small function of their taking a 3-2 lead. However the starters are the most effective arms L.A. has at its disposal, and it ought to be capable of deploy them at will with the season on the road.
"I believe we’re a extra gifted group than we had been final 12 months," Hernández mentioned. "We discovered a option to do it final 12 months. I believed we had been in a much bigger gap within the scenario with the pitching employees final 12 months, so, proper man on the proper time on the mound for us in Sport 6 in Yoshinobu. It’s time for us, for the offense, to point out up.”

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