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

Sonja Chen
LOS ANGELES — Because the Dodgers performed out their last inning at Dodger Stadium this yr, an remoted voice in what had been a sellout crowd tried to get a chant going: "The Collection isn't over!"
That drew some scattered cheers, however they quickly pale again into the resigned feeling that had permeated the ballpark environment nicely earlier than the Dodgers' 6-1 loss in Sport 5 of the World Collection was last.
It was already a provided that the Fall Basic can be determined in Toronto, with the Collection tied at two video games apiece heading into Wednesday night's contest. However impulsively, the Blue Jays are one win away from a championship whereas the Dodgers are on the brink, going through elimination for the primary time for the reason that 2024 NL Division Collection.
"I believe there's extra in there. I do know there's extra in there," supervisor Dave Roberts stated. "We've received two video games in a row, however once more, it simply comes down to 1 recreation. I believe that we’ve been in numerous elimination video games, and we discovered a solution to get to the opposite aspect."
Historical past is towards the Dodgers. In any best-of-seven postseason collection tied 2-2, the Sport 5 winner has received the collection 46 of 68 instances (67.6%). In collection with the present 2-3-2 format, groups taking a 3-2 lead by successful Sport 5 on the street — earlier than returning house for Video games 6 and seven — have gone on to win the collection 20 of 27 instances (74.1%).
Odds are merely odds in spite of everything, and the Dodgers have overwhelmed them earlier than. Then once more, they misplaced Sport 5 in no small half as a result of they discovered themselves on the flawed aspect of World Collection 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 an identical mistake two pitches later, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made him pay, marking the primary time in World Collection historical past a crew has gone back-to-back to steer off a recreation.
"First pitch of the sport, fastball up and in. It’s 98 and up. Unfortunate," Snell stated. "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 way of the Dodgers' lineup throughout seven innings, rewriting a rookie World Collection document 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 problem a stroll.
The bullpen was leaky once again, however 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 Collection, it's that they should preserve 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 towards the wall rather a lot this yr," Will Smith stated. "Combating by way of accidents, preventing by way of expectations and all that. It is a robust group, and I obtained no downside getting into there and successful 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 space. Shohei Ohtani could be available in relief beginning with Sport 6. Tyler Glasnow is lined as much as begin Sport 7, and Snell stated he would even be accessible in some capability.
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The rotation has been the Dodgers' power this postseason, and the Blue Jays' capability to select 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 proficient crew than we have been final yr," Hernández stated. "We discovered a solution to do it final yr. I assumed we have been in an even bigger gap within the scenario with the pitching employees final yr, 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 indicate up.”

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