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The panic meter was high in Los Angeles after the Dodgers fell to a 3-2 World Series deficit at home, but it didn’t show up as such in their own clubhouse.
The Dodgers had to fly more than 2,000 miles to Toronto, whose Blue Jays fan base was hungry for their first Fall Classic win in 32 years, knowing a loss would end their season.
For the first time all year, everyone doubted the powerful Dodgers.
Well, everyone except the Dodgers themselves.
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates after hitting a go-ahead solo home run in the 11th inning during Game 7 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
“Just keep fighting, man. Keep believing in each other, keep trusting in each other and knowing that the job is not done,” World Series hero Will Smith told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview. “Coming into Toronto, the crowd was definitely an advantage for them, but we were ready, we knew it was a fight and we came out victorious.”
Emotions ran high after their wild victory in Game 6, which ended in a double play from Kike Hernández to Miguel Rojas. But that set up a Game 7 where anything can happen, and it all did.
The Blue Jays took a 3-0 lead thanks to a three-run homer by Bo Bichette. Shortly after, the benches emptied after Andrés Giménez was hit by a pitch. The Dodgers had three solo shots, including one in the ninth by Rojas and another in the 11th by Will Smith.
Between those last two home runs were Isiah Kiner-Falefa getting thrown out at home by an inch, Andy Pages, a defensive substitution, literally running over Hernandez to make the catch and save the season, and even the Dodgers wasting their own chance in the 10th.
After Smith’s home run, he and his teammates clearly felt like they had a big monkey off their backs.
“It was crazy. Miggy hit it early to tie the ninth, I was able to hit the one. I was excited, we’re celebrating all that,” Smith said.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith reacts after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center. (Nick Turchiaro/Image Images)
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“But the guys are in the dugout, ‘We still have three more outs, this isn’t over yet. Let’s finish this and do this.'”
With Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s MVP performance, they did it. Twenty-four hours after working six innings in Game 6, Yamamoto, the highest-paid pitcher in the history of the sport, showed why he was worth every penny, despite having yet to throw a pitch in the major leagues when he signed his $325 million contract.
In fact, Smith even said he would pick Yamamoto over Kershaw to win a game.
“You’ve got to go to Yoshi, now. He’s head and shoulders above everyone right now. What he did this whole postseason was incredible, and we definitely couldn’t have done it without him, that’s for sure,” he said.
“I would totally trust Kersh too.”
It’s been half a week of celebrations, from Toronto to Los Angeles. After the parade and celebration at the stadium on Tuesday, Smith had one more party at a local Raising Cane’s on Wednesday, and he’s enjoying every second of partying with the Dodger faithful.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) picks up pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series at Rogers Center on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“We had the parade the other day, it was incredible, Cane’s is full, people are lining up on the street,” he said from the chicken tender place. “They are the best. Millions of people came to the parade, they filled the stadium, that was incredible. It’s a great thing, it’s been fun to celebrate with everyone here. The city is very happy and excited, and so am I and my teammates.”
