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Blue Jays: 4 important instances to reflect on before putting Game 7 to bed
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Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Nick Prasad
Nov 5, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 5, 2025, 05:18 EST
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We’re days past Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, where the Los Angeles Dodgers reclaimed their World Championship, breaking the hearts of Toronto Blue Jays players, personnel, and followers. 
The past is the past and is not to dwell on; however, it is healthy to reflect on what transpired in that Game 7 showdown. One may ask, how did things take a turn for the worse when the Blue Jays had the game in hand?
There were a few instances that bookmarked parts of this war-type matchup, while others totally defined the outcome. 

Bo Bichette broke out into his heavy-hitting offensive self 

Bichette found himself on the IL for most of September and all through the postseason until the World Series came around. This is where Bichette rejoined the team, bringing excitement to Jays fans, as well as questions.
Why fix the wheel if not broken? What if Bichette is more disruptive than productive? Could such a long layoff hinder his ability on the field?
The Blue Jays infielder answered those questions with one swing of the lumber in the bottom of the third inning, after George Springer singled to left field, moved up on a Nathan Lukes sacrifice, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr walked.
Bichette launched a 442-foot home run to centre field, putting the Blue Jays up three runs. In the bottom of the sixth, Gimenez doubled to score Ernie Clement, putting Toronto up 4-2. After Bichette opened the doors for the Jays’ offence, that was the end of it. 
Toronto ended up depending on this lead, and stranded 14 runners, going only three for 17 with runners in scoring position. 

Late Dodgers Rally

When you think about a Dodgers rally, you think about a slug-fest, and that was exactly it. A two-swing “rally” in the eighth and ninth innings is what they needed to put themselves back in the Championship chat.
In the eighth inning, Max Muncy faced Trey Yesavage, who missed his third pitch location, placing an 83 mph splitter middle-in. This ball was sent 373 feet over the right-field wall, making it 4-3. 
In the ninth inning, Rojas worked Jays closer Jeff Hoffman into a seven-pitch at-bat. This pitch was an 86 slider that lingered low-middle-in, and was sent 387 feet over the right-field wall to tie the game. 

90 feet away was not close enough to win the game 

The bottom of the ninth was heartbreaking. Bichette singled to left field and was pitch-ran for by Isaiah Kiner-Falefa. Addison Barger later walked, and Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.  
Daulton Varsho was at the plate with the infield in, and a groundball to second base seemed promising. The Dodgers chose to go home instead of attempting a double play, getting Kiner-Falefa out at home plate on the force out with the bases remaining loaded. Ernie Clement then flew out to end the frame. 
What was perceived to be the issue here? Kiner-Falefa’s lead has been a hot issue this postseason, with many believing he could have been further down the baseline before getting thrown out at a bang-bang play at home. The replay shows that he was an inch or so from being called safe. 
After the controversy, Kiner-Falefa explained his direction to not take a huge primary or secondary lead to avoid being doubled off on a line drive out. Overall, the Blue Jays failed to score at all with ample opportunities in that inning. 

Missed spots in the late innings led to a Dodgers back-to-back championship win

Shane Bieber was the arm for Toronto at the top of the 11th. He drew two ground-ball outs before facing Will Smith. He started Smith with a slider and knuckle-curve, both for balls. In the hitters count, Bieber placed a bullseye slider at 86 mph down the pipe of the zone. 
Smith drove this 366 feet over the left-field wall, giving the Dodgers the lead with a go-ahead shot. This was all they needed to secure another Fall Classic title.

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