The World Series is returning to Canada for the first time since 1993 thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays’ dramatic Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series on Monday along the shores of Lake Ontario.
It was a three-run home run from Toronto’s George Springer in the seventh inning that proved to be the deciding moment in the Jays’ 4-3 win.
The Jays’ comeback was made possible by a disappointing start from Toronto veteran Shane Bieber, who failed to get out of the fourth inning.
But starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt stepped up in relief, each throwing key scoreless innings, before closer Jeff Hoffman shut the door on Seattle with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
The National League-champion Los Angeles Dodgers will now travel to Toronto for Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.
Naturally, it was Game 6 hero and native Canadian Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who won MVP honors. The 26-year-old son and namesake of the Montreal Expos legend hit .385 with three homers, including the go-ahead knock in Game 6, to push the Blue Jays back to their first World Series since the waning days of Prime Minister Kim Campbell’s tenure in Ottawa.
Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer, right, celebrates after hitting a three-run home
Toronto Blue Jays players celebrate on the field after defeating the Seattle Mariners
The Dodgers practiced Monday while Game 7 of the AL Championship Series played on the empty stadium’s video boards.
They swept Milwaukee to clinch the NLCS last Friday — their ninth win in 10 playoff games so far — leaving six days to rest, work out and think before the World Series begins Friday.
‘Some guys are hitting every day, some guys are re-setting, taking it slow,’ Mookie Betts said. ‘We’ve been together so much throughout the year, so that plays a little part in guys kind of want to enjoy a little family time before we get back rolling again. It’s kind of a balance.’
Shohei Ohtani walked into the clubhouse in flip flops, three days after earning NLCS MVP with an epic performance in Game 4 that included hitting three home runs and striking out 10.
‘I don’t want to rain on the parade or anything, but it’s over and done with,’ Betts said. ‘It has nothing to do with our goal now.’
The Dodgers had bye weeks in the postseason the previous three years, two of which ended in Division Series losses to San Diego and Arizona. Last year, they changed their practice approach in an effort to stay sharp.
This season, they didn’t earn a bye and won their Wild Card Series against Cincinnati.
‘Last year, when we had the bye and the year before we were trying to get through one more month of baseball,’ Rojas said. ‘For me, it’s really different because all we’re trying to do right here is getting four more wins to win a World Series.’
