Dodgers’ Costly Wild Pitches Push Blue Jays to Brink of World Series Glory

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 World Series aiming to accomplish what no team had done in a quarter century — repeat as champions. But after their grueling 18-inning victory in Game 3 gave them the series lead, momentum swung sharply against them. The Toronto Blue Jays responded with back-to-back dominant performances, including a 6–1 win in Game 5 at Dodger Stadium that left Los Angeles stunned and on the brink of elimination.

Game 5 began with fireworks from Toronto’s offense. Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched back-to-back home runs to open the game — a first in World Series history. The early power surge silenced the Dodger Stadium crowd and gave Toronto an immediate cushion. Despite the shaky start, Dodgers starter Blake Snell settled in, holding the Blue Jays to just three runs through six innings.

By the seventh inning, the Dodgers still had a chance, trailing only 3–1. But what followed was one of the most disastrous single innings in World Series history — a collapse defined by uncharacteristic mistakes and costly wild pitches that turned the game beyond reach.

For a team that had prided itself on poise and execution, Los Angeles’ unraveling in Game 5 was both stunning and historic. Three wild pitches in a single inning — an MLB World Series first — symbolized a night when everything went wrong for the defending champions.

1. A Nightmare Seventh Inning for Los Angeles

The unraveling began innocently enough. Toronto’s Addison Barger led off the seventh with a single to left, then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Snell. After recording the first out, Snell spiked another fastball in the dirt while walking Andrés Giménez, allowing Barger to move to third. With two outs and runners on the corners, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the call to the bullpen, bringing in hard-throwing reliever Edgardo Henriquez to face Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The move backfired immediately. Henriquez, known for his velocity but sometimes erratic control, unleashed yet another wild pitch — missing the strike zone by several feet — that skipped to the backstop. Barger sprinted home, marking the third wild pitch of the inning and a new low point for the Dodgers’ staff. Guerrero eventually drew a walk, and Bo Bichette followed with a sharp single to left, driving in another run to make it 5–1. The Dodger Stadium crowd, once roaring with anticipation, fell into stunned silence as the Blue Jays’ dugout erupted in celebration. What had been a tight contest suddenly spiraled into a blowout. Even after escaping the seventh, the Dodgers’ bullpen woes continued. In the eighth inning, reliever Anthony Banda added to the chaos with another wild pitch — the team’s fourth of the night — setting up yet another Toronto run. Each mistake further buried Los Angeles and fueled Toronto’s confidence.

2. Toronto’s Composure Shines as Dodgers Falter

While Los Angeles collapsed, Toronto remained poised and opportunistic. Yesavage and the bullpen dominated the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup, limiting Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman to just four hits on the night. Toronto’s disciplined approach at the plate, paired with their defensive execution, underscored a maturity beyond their years. The seventh inning’s chaos wasn’t merely about Dodgers mistakes — it was also about Toronto’s relentless pressure. The Blue Jays forced Los Angeles pitchers to work deep into counts and capitalize on every defensive lapse. Manager John Schneider praised his team’s composure after the game, noting how his young roster “never flinched, no matter the moment.” Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ inability to regain control reflected a deeper issue. After a long season built on depth and discipline, Los Angeles looked rattled under the World Series spotlight. The three wild pitches in one inning weren’t just statistical anomalies — they were symbolic of a team cracking under pressure. As the series shifts to Toronto, the Blue Jays hold both the momentum and the confidence. They’ve won two straight and now return home to a packed Rogers Centre with the chance to clinch their first championship in 32 years.

3. A Title Within Reach

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The Dodgers’ hopes of back-to-back championships now hang by a thread. Trailing 3–2 in the series, they’ll need to win two straight on the road — a tall order against a surging Toronto squad that has found both its rhythm and belief. For the Blue Jays, the opportunity is monumental. Behind the youthful brilliance of players like Trey Yesavage, Addison Barger, and Davis Schneider, and the veteran leadership of Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, Toronto has risen to the moment. Friday’s Game 6 could mark the culmination of a three-decade-long wait for baseball glory in Canada. Yet amid the excitement, Toronto remains grounded. “We’ve come this far, but nothing’s over until that final out,” Guerrero said after the win. “We’re going to finish this the right way — at home.” In a game defined by wild pitches and poise under pressure, the Blue Jays capitalized on the Dodgers’ collapse to move within one win of their first World Series title since 1993.