Dodgers’ pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, centre, celebrates with his teammates after their World Series win. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)The LatestThe Los Angeles Dodgers have repeated as World Series champions with a 5-4 victory in 11 innings over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the Fall Classic.Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto shut down the Blue Jays in extra innings to seal the win for L.A. Yamamoto was named the World Series MVP.Will Smith’s solo home run in the 11th proved to be the winning run.Heartbroken Blue Jays fans saluted the team with one last “Let’s go Blue Jays” chant at Rogers Centre.UpdatesNovember 240 minutes agoDodgers’ Yamamoto says he wasn’t sure he could pitch tonightJohn RietiLos Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and pitcher Roki Sasaki celebrate after their win. (Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press)World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto fielded multiple questions about how he was able to go back out and pitch 2.2 innings in Game 7 the day after he started in Game 6.Speaking through an interpreter, Yamamoto said he honestly wasn’t sure if he could do it, but made some adjustments in the bullpen and realized he could get the job done.He held the Jays to just one hit.53 minutes agoJays team will likely change in the offseasonJohn RietiAlmost every Blue Jay interviewed in the locker room after Game 7 has spoken about how close-knit their team is, with many noting it likely won’t be together in the same way next year.“I would love to have another shot with this group,” pitcher Chris Bassitt said, fighting back tears.Several players will likely leave during the free agency period. It’s a fact of big league life. But right now it’s an added sting for Bassitt and the Jays that tonight will be their final game together. 54 minutes agoPrime minister congratulates Blue JaysAdam CarterPrime Minister Mark Carney thanked the Blue Jays for a “tremendous” season – and for fighting until the bitter end.“You’ve made all of [Canada] proud with how hard you fought, the risks you took, and the teamwork you lived throughout,” Carney said in a social media post.Absolutely 💔 result. Congratulations to the @BlueJays for a tremendous season and for battling right to the end. You’ve made all of 🇨🇦 proud with how hard you fought, the risks you took, and the teamwork you lived throughout. An inspiration to us all pointing to an ever…—MarkJCarney55 minutes agoThanks for following along with us tonightJohn RietiFactor in this thrilling playoff run, the Toronto Blue Jays played 180 baseball games this season.If you’re a Blue Jays fan, you’ve followed a good number of those games (maybe all of them, if you’re really hardcore) and they’ve punctuated your summer and made for an unforgettable fallThis team was so close to winning a World Series, but it wasn’t to be. It was an honour to write about tonight’s game, and I hope to do it all again next year. 1 hour agoCloser Jeff Hoffman stung by 9th inning blastJohn RietiToronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning during game seven. (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images/Reuters)“I cost everybody in here a World Series ring,” pitcher Jeff Hoffman told reporters.What happened after he gave up the home run? Hoffman said the coaches told him it’s a tie game, and the team would win it from here. 1 hour agoBieber says Jays were a special groupJohn RietiPitcher Shane Bieber, who was acquired at the trade deadline, said it was a pleasure to play every day with a “special group” here in Toronto.“We’re wearing this one together,” he said.His eyes red, Bieber said he hung a slider on the pitch that Will Smith belted for the game-winning homer. 1 hour agoJays players united despite lossJohn RietiErnie Clement, fighting back tears, spoke with reporters in the Jays locker room where he said there were a few speeches and a lot of hugs shared before the press was allowed in. “Obviously, it just wasn’t our night here,” Clement said, referencing the Dodgers home runs and the deep fly ball he hit in the ninth that almost won the Blue Jays the game.George Springer echoed Clement’s sentiment that the Jays had a special thing going this year.“I just think this group has so much to be proud of even if it didn’t go our way,” he told reporters.1 hour agoToronto mayor thanks Blue Jays for bringing city togetherAdam CarterToronto Mayor Olivia Chow thanked both the Blue Jays and the city of Toronto in the wake of the team’s loss.“Blue Jays, you’re Toronto’s team, you’re Canada’s team. You’ve united all of us,” Chow said in a social media post. “Thank you for setting such a good example of excellence, friendship, and hope. You have inspired a generation.”Chow went on to ask the city to hold on to the joy coupled with the team’s almost-fairy tale playoff run.“The Jays have shown us what’s possible when we work together, and hope is the motivation,” she said.Thank you @BlueJays! You united #Toronto and the whole country with your passion and plays. You’ve made us so proud. Thank you. Even without a #WorldSeries title, we #GotItAll. #WantItAll pic.twitter.com/Pkt6LT2A2d—cityoftoronto1 hour agoFans stunned at Nathan Phillips SquareMark GollomFans quickly cleared out of Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto after Game 7. (Katie Newman/CBC)Thousands of fans at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, who just minutes earlier had erupted in cheers with a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. double in the bottom of the 11th, were silenced by a double-play that ended their hopes for a World Series championship.Most cleared out quickly after the last play. But many remained, frozen in disbelief.Angelo Nitsis just sat on the ground dumbfounded by the result.“I’m stunned, heartbroken, at a loss for words at what’s happened here.”Michael Romualdi described his feeling as “eternal sadness.”“It hurts. It hurts to see our boys lose like that,” he said. “It sucks. It sucks. And on a double-play too.”“At the end of the day they tried their best, they played their damn hearts out, but I guess our hitting wasn’t there, our offence couldn’t keep up with the Dodgers.”3 hours agoBaseball’s like that, Jays manager saysJohn Rieti’It’ll hurt,’ says Jays manager after team’s Game 7 loss Speaking after the team’s heartbreaking loss, Jays Manager John Schneider thanked his team for their “great” season, and congratulated the Dodgers on their win.Manager John Schneider is speaking with reporters after the crushing loss.“It’ll hurt for a few days, a few weeks,” he said.Schneider said he’ll eventually start looking back over the season’s highlights, like Bo Bichette’s season-changing home run in Texas and George Springer’s Canada Day grand slam. But for now, it’s his job to just take in what happened. Then again, he said, “the beauty of baseball is that it goes on.”Spring training, he reminded baseball fans, starts in February.
L.A. Dodgers win World Series, defeat Toronto Blue Jays 5-4
