The Los Angeles Dodgers have done it again. The franchise captured its second straight World Series title, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games to claim another championship banner.
Will Smith delivered the decisive blow in Game 7, launching a go-ahead home run in the top of the 11th inning. The Dodgers held on for a 5-4 victory when Yoshinobu Yamamoto induced Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk to ground into a game-ending double play in the bottom half.
It wasn’t easy getting there.
Los Angeles trailed for most of the decisive game before tying it in the ninth inning. They took their first—and final—lead in extra innings, then watched Yamamoto slam the door on Toronto’s rally attempt.
The championship gives the Dodgers nine World Series titles in franchise history. That’s enough to break a tie with division rival San Francisco, which has eight championships, and moves Los Angeles into a tie for third place all-time among MLB franchises.
The Dodgers now sit alongside the Boston Red Sox and the Athletics franchise—now the Las Vegas Athletics—with nine titles apiece. Only the New York Yankees (27 championships) and St. Louis Cardinals (11) have won more.
Next season brings another opportunity to make history. A 10th championship would put the Dodgers in sole possession of third place all-time and mark a rare three-peat—something only the Yankees (1998-2000) and Oakland Athletics (1972-74) have accomplished in the modern era.
The way this team’s built, they’ve got to like their chances of getting there.
