Jesse RogersNov 1, 2025, 01:43 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on X
TORONTO — Off the bat, Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger was hoping to score or least advance to third base as the tying run. The one thing he didn’t anticipate was Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Enrique Hernandez catching a line drive off the bat of Andres Gimenez and doubling him off second base to end Game 6 of the World Series in favor the Dodgers on Friday night.
“I was pretty surprised he got to it,” Barger said after the Dodgers’ dramatic 3-1 win to force Game 7. “Off the bat, I thought it was going to go [right] over the shortstop’s head. I didn’t think it was going to travel that far.
Moments earlier, Barger had doubled off the left-center-field wall and kept running around the bases as the ball got lodged at the base of the wall. Hernandez and Dodgers centerfielder Justin Dean put up their hands to signal the ball was stuck, leading to left field umpire John Tumpane ruling it a ground rule double.
Barger was sent back to second while pinch runner Myles Straw, who had entered the game after catcher Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch, was placed on third.
“It’s a tough read,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “[Hernandez] playing shallow and one out, you’re thinking score. He made a really good play. It’s such a tweener. He made a good play, good throw. Good play by Rojas, too. Wild.
That was the sentiment throughout the locker room after a second tough loss in the series. The Blue Jays were also on the losing end of the marathon 18-inning affair in Game 3. They bounced back after that defeat, winning Games 4 and 5. Infielder Bo Bichette was asked what his emotions would be like on Saturday.
“I anticipate us doing everything we can to win,” Bichette said. “I’m sure there will be a lot of adrenaline. We’re going to show up to win.”
Infielder Davis Schneider said he has dreamed of being the hero in Game 7 of the World Series since he was a kid. He could get his chance on Saturday.
“I still do it to this day,” Schneider said with a smile. “In the cage. Game 7, game on the line. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. Hopefully we’re up 15-0.”
The same could be said for the entire Blue Jays roster. They aren’t surprised they’re in this position — they’re simply grateful.
“If you told us in spring training we were going to have a Game 7, everyone here would have signed up for it,” Kiner-Falefa said. “From last place last year to Game 7 of the World series. We’ll see what happens.”
Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa was watching it all unfold from the bench.
“I thought it was getting down 1000 percent,” he said shaking his head.
CloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on X