Mary Gilmore, Staff Writer
In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 MLB season, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4. This victory clinched their ninth World Series title and led to the Dodgers becoming MLB’s first back-to-back champions in 25 years.
Game seven of the 2025 World Series was historic. With the series tied 3-3, both teams competing had everything on the line. The game drew an average of 51 million viewers across the United States, Canada, and Japan, making it the most-watched MLB game since the 1991 World Series between the Twins and the Braves.
The game ended 5-4 after it was extended to 11 innings. The Dodgers tied the game in the ninth with a home run from Miguel Rojas. Then, the game-winning score occurred in the 11th inning, with a home run from Will Smith.
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named the 2025 World Series MVP for his performance throughout the series. Yamamoto closed out one of the best World Series pitching displays ever with 223 shutout innings to seal the championship. He threw 96 pitches during game six, and delivered a four-hit complete game in game two. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the ninth pitcher in World Series history to play in a game the day after pitching for at least six innings.
While Yamamoto dominated the World Series, game seven marked the end of an era for Clayton Kershaw, a legendary Dodgers pitcher. He announced his retirement after 18 seasons with the Dodgers. The championship parade in Los Angeles will include a farewell rally for the future Hall of Famer.
Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers first baseman, was the 2024 World Series MVP. He proved this year that that title still holds significance with an outstanding performance during the series. Game three was a pivotal moment in the World Series, as the game lasted 18 innings, resulting in 6 hours and 39 minutes of gameplay. Finally, Freeman was up to bat in the bottom of the 18th, and hit a solo home run. This home run ended the game, giving the Dodgers a game three win of 6-5.
In his game seven post-game interview, Freeman stated, “Just a great game. There was so much. Everything you could think of happened in that game. You know, benches clearing, everything. Everything. I mean, we had everything in that Series. And I’m just glad we won it.”
On the Blue Jays side, the sting from the loss will be felt for a long time. The team was only two outs away from winning the World Series when Rojas hit the game-tying home run. However, the Blue Jays still dominated, making this year’s series matchup all the more fun to watch.
Specifically, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays first basemen, brought the heat when he was at the plate. He posted a .333 batting average, a .474 on-base percentage, and a .600 slugging percentage. Guerrero Jr. hit two home runs across 38 plate appearances and was ranked among the top three of most productive hitters in the World Series.
While the Blue Jays fought hard, the 2025 World Series solidified the Dodgers as a modern MLB dynasty. It’s unclear as to what the future may hold, but the Dodgers are sure to be a force to reckon with as the 2026 season approaches.
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