Any potential celebrations in Toronto will have to be on hold for another day.

The Toronto Blue Jays could not find a way to generate a win over Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers, losing 3-1 and forcing Game 7 at the Rogers Centre.

Kevin Gausman pitched six innings of three-hit ball for the Blue Jays, adding two walks and allowing just three runs when he fell on tough times in the third inning – the lone frame the Dodgers put up any run support. He struck out eight in the start, including the top three hitters of Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman to start the game. Doubles from Tommy Edman and Will Smith contributed to the run support, with walks to Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani also playing a part in the three-run inning.

Gausman authored a 67.6% strike rate and generated 20 whiffs on the day, keeping the Dodgers’ hitters off balance with his split-finger pitch. Outside of the lone inning, the right-hander kept the Jays in close against the Dodgers before he was lifted.

The Blue Jays’ bullpen was also strong, with Louis Varland, Mason Fluharty, Seranthony Dominguez, and Chris Bassitt appearing in the game. The group gave up just one hit and two walks through the remaining three innings of work.

The Dodgers got another solid outing from Yoshinobu Yamamato, who tossed six innings of one-run ball, allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out six. He kept the Jays hitters looking uncomfortable at the plate, generating 13 whiffs of his own before he was lifted in favour of the bullpen.

His lone run against came in the third inning as well, with Addison Barger leading off the frame with a double before George Springer brought him home with a single of his own.

Dodgers manager surprisingly pulled Yamamoto after just 96 pitches, opting to go with left-hander Justin Wrobleski. The move worked, as the southpaw was able to escape the frame before turning the ball over to Roki Sasaki, who went the remaining two innings of work.

For the Blue Jays’ bats, there were a ton of missed opportunities on the base paths.

The team went 1 for 9 with RISP, and when you face Yamamoto, missing early opportunities like this will come back to haunt you.

One notable moment was when Yamamoto was out of the game already in the bottom of the eighth, when George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were on second and first with just one out, but Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho could not advance the runners to give the Jays’ pitching staff some run support.

Things got interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning as well, with Alejandro Kirk being hit by a pitch to put a runner on first with zero outs. Addison Barger followed, and after a five-pitch at-bat, Barger laced a ball to centre field that got stuck at the bottom of the wall. Outfielder Justin Dean raised his hands to signal it was stuck, and the umpires called it a dead ball. It was reviewed, but the call would stand, and Straw (pinch running) and Barger would be placed at third and second.

This knocked Sasaki out of the game, and Roberts turned to starter Tyler Glasnow to try to close out the game. Ernie Clement popped out to first base on the first pitch he saw, putting one out on the board. Then Andres Gimenez lined out to left field, and Barger strayed too far from second base, with Enrique Hernandez able to throw out the Jays slugger at the bag for the double play.

This ended the game to a chorus of boos and disbelief from the Jays faithful in attendance, as a potential tying run situation turned into three quick outs, and the game was over.

The Toronto Blue Jays will now turn their sights to tomorrow night, where Game 7 of the World Series will take place at the Rogers Centre.

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