Will Smith’s 11th-Inning Home Run Lifts Dodgers to 2025 World Series Title

TORONTO — The Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series champions for the second straight year, sealing the title with a 5 to 4 extra-inning win over the Toronto Blue Jays in a dramatic Game 7 at Rogers Centre on Saturday night. Will Smith delivered the decisive swing, launching a solo home run in the top of the 11th inning to quiet a raucous Toronto crowd and secure the Dodgers’ third championship since 2020.

Los Angeles captured the series 4 to 3, becoming the first team to repeat as champions since the 1998 to 2000 Yankees dynasty. The Dodgers also claimed the World Series crown in 2020, and now again in 2024 and 2025, further solidifying their status as the premier powerhouse of this era.

Smith’s Heroics Seal It

With the score tied 4 to 4 in extra innings, Smith turned on a pitch from Shane Bieber and sent it over the left-field wall for his second home run of the postseason. The Dodgers’ catcher finished the night with two hits and two runs scored, adding another big moment to what has been a standout October career.

Toronto threatened in the bottom of the 11th, putting the tying run on third, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto slammed the door. The Dodgers ace entered in the ninth and recorded the final nine outs of the season, showcasing the same composure that defined his dominant postseason.

Yoshinobo Yamamoto Named World Series MVP

Yamamoto was named World Series MVP after a brilliant playoff run that exceeded even the high expectations placed on the prized international signing. The right-hander finished the postseason with a 5 and 1 record and a sparkling 1.45 ERA, striking out 33 batters across 37 and one third innings. His Game 6 gem forced the decisive Game 7, and his clutch relief performance on Monday completed a remarkable October.

Jays’ Missed Opportunities Prove Costly

For the Blue Jays, the loss ends what had been a storybook postseason run. Toronto led 3 to 0 early after a three-run home run from Bo Bichette in the third inning electrified the home crowd. Andrés Giménez added an RBI double in the sixth to make it 4 to 2.

But missed chances loomed large. Toronto left fourteen runners on base, including a bases-loaded opportunity in the ninth that they failed to convert. The Blue Jays had the winning run at third again in the 11th, but a double play ended their postseason.

Max Scherzer gave Toronto four and one third innings in the start, followed by strong relief outings from Louis Varland and Chris Bassitt before the late Dodgers rally.

Dodgers’ Core Delivers Again

This Dodgers title comes on the back of star power and depth. Yoshinobo Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Will Smith all produced at times during the series, while the bullpen and defense delivered in the biggest moments.

The victory caps a dominant two-year stretch for Los Angeles, who lifted the trophy at Yankee Stadium last fall and now celebrate on Canadian soil. The Dodgers now turn their attention to pursuit of a potential three-peat, a feat not achieved in 25 years.

What’s Next

For the Blue Jays, the wait for a third championship continues. The club will head into a pivotal offseason looking to build on a roster that came within three outs of a title. Spring Training opens in February in Florida, where Toronto will regroup and aim to return to the Fall Classic.

With the baseball season now concluded, the sports spotlight in Canada shifts to hockey. Stay tuned for continued coverage of the NHL, AHL and more.