TORONTO — This was the World Series for the ages, one that dispensed memorable moments like an IV drip. It started with a pinch-hit grand slam and an 18-inning Game 3, ended with Shohei Ohtani reaching base nine times and Freddie Freeman hitting two walk-off homers, and in between featured the first back-to-back homers opening a game, star rookie Trey Yesavage striking out a Series-record 12 batters, an improbable Game 7 comeback and a historic double play that brought the Series to a close.
It was the sixth winner-take-all Game 7 to go extra innings and the second longest in Series history, surpassing the Washington Senators’ 4-3, 12-inning win over Cleveland in 1924. In the bottom of the 11th, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled leading off and was sacrificed to third. Addison Barger then walked on four splitters out of the zone. Then, with the bases loaded and no outs, Alex Kirk hit a broken-bat grounder to shortstop Mookie Betts, who started a 6-6-3 double play that gave the Dodgers their second title in six years and shattered the record of most consecutive loss-clinching Game 7s in a Series (five) set by New York from 1982 through 1996.
It was also the first Series-ending double play involving an infielder since 1947 and the only World Series game-winning double play in which an outfielder had a putout or assist. During the celebration afterward, teammates mobbed Miguel Rojas for catching a daring throw from center fielder Kike Hernandez to complete the play. Rojas, a light hitter often called upon for defense, had to run fast and keep his foot on the plate to beat Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a call upheld after video review.