Setting the stage
The Dodgers entered the 2025 Fall Classic as the defending champions, looking to become just the second team in recent memory to win back-to-back titles. According to multiple sources, they succeeded. AP News+2The Guardian+2
Their opponent, the Blue Jays, were seeking their first championship in decades and had built a young, explosive roster with high-octane offense. The stage was set for a battle.
Early innings & momentum swings
In Game 7, the Blue Jays struck early. In the 3rd inning, Bo Bichette hammered a three-run home run off the Dodgers’ starter Shohei Ohtani to give Toronto a 3-0 lead. AP News+1
The Dodgers responded in the 4th: a double by Will Smith, a single by Freddie Freeman, and the push to make it 3-1. MLB.com
But Toronto answered again in the 6th with an RBI double by Andrés Giménez to extend the lead to 4-2. MLB.com
At that point, the Blue Jays looked poised — they had home-field, momentum, and the lead.
Drama building: ninth inning heroics
With Toronto ahead 4-3 in the top of the 9th and just two outs away from the title, the Dodgers mounted a dramatic turnaround. The Guardian+1
Miguel Rojas stepped to the plate and launched a game-tying solo home run to knot the score at 4-4. That tied the game in the 9th of a Game 7 — a rarely seen feat. AP News
In the bottom of the 9th, Toronto loaded the bases with one out. The Dodgers’ ace relief pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, entered under enormous pressure and got out of the jam to force extra innings. AP News+1
An incredible diving catch by Andy Pages helped preserve the tie and sent the contest into the 10th. The Guardian+1
Extra innings & ultimate hero
The 10th inning passed without scoring. But in the 11th, the decisive blow came. Will Smith stepped up and crushed a 2-0 slider from Shane Bieber into the left-field bullpen, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 lead. The historic nature: first extra-innings homer in a winner-take-all World Series Game 7. AP News+1
In the bottom of the 11th, Toronto again threatened: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled, the tying run was at third with one out. But Yamamoto, again on the mound, got the ground-ball double play (6-6-3) to end the game and clinch the championship for the Dodgers. Reuters+1
Pitching & defense: the difference-makers
Yamamoto was the cornerstone of the Dodgers’ pitching success in this series. He won three games, including the clincher, and was named World Series MVP. His final line: 3-0, 1.09 ERA, 15 strikeouts, just two walks across 17 ⅔ innings. AP News+1
On defense, the Dodgers made key plays: the catch by Pages, the final double-play, timely outs. For the Blue Jays, despite a potent offense, they left too many runners stranded — for example, they went 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position in Game 7. The Guardian+1
Offense: clutch over volume
Though Toronto out-scored Los Angeles over the course of the series, the Dodgers excelled in timing. Key hits at key moments:
- Max Muncy’s solo homer in the 8th to pull the Dodgers within 4-3. MLB.com
- Rojas’ 9th-inning homer to force extra innings.
- Smith’s 11th-inning homer to win it.
For Toronto, Bichette’s early three-run shot gave them hope. Guerrero Jr. and others had their hits, but the big swing moments went to LA. Sportsnet.ca
What it means historically
- The Dodgers became the first team in 25 years to win back-to-back World Series titles (since the 1999-2000 Yankees). AP News
- They were the first National League team to repeat since the 1975-76 Reds. The Guardian
- The Game 7 itself ranks among the greatest ever — late-game heroics, extra innings, comebacks, and a road team winning it.
- For the Blue Jays, this loss will sting: they were so close. As one player put it: “It’s going to sting for a while. That’s the reality of it.” Sportsnet.ca
Lessons & takeaways
- Resilience matters — The Dodgers never gave in, even when down in the game and series.
- Clutch hitting beats volume — The Blue Jays had plenty of offense, but LA hit when it counted most.
- Pitching in key moments — Yamamoto’s dominance and bullpen execution made the difference.
- Defense wins titles — Big catches, double plays, nerve-under-pressure workouts.
- Small margins — A walk here, a hit there, an inning changed everything.
What’s next
For the Dodgers: They’ve cemented a dynasty narrative. The challenge will be sustaining it — keeping players healthy, maintaining hunger, and staying ahead of competitors.
For the Blue Jays: They have the core, the future looks bright. They’ll need to turn heartbreak into fuel — addressing situational hitting, perhaps bolstering depth, and staying mentally tough in the late innings.
Final thoughts
This series — and in particular Game 7 — offered a spectacular mix of talent, drama, storytelling and sport. The Dodgers proved once again why they are among baseball’s elite. The Blue Jays proved they are a force to be reckoned with. Fans witnessed a Fall Classic for the ages.
