UPDATE: In a devastating turn of events, the Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 in an emotional Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday night, marking the end of their championship dreams. The defeat struck hard, leaving players visibly shaken as they faced the media.
Third baseman Ernie Clement fought back tears while pitcher Max Scherzer wiped away his anguish, reflecting the raw emotions of the team. Closer Jeff Hoffman took responsibility for the heartbreaking loss, stating, “It sucks. Supposed to end differently. Was just one pitch. I cost everybody here a World Series ring. It feels pretty s—ty.”
Hoffman was just two outs away from sealing the victory when Miguel Rojas of the Dodgers hit a critical homer on a 3-2 slider, allowing Los Angeles to tie the game. The Dodgers capitalized on the momentum, with catcher Will Smith delivering the decisive blow in the 11th inning, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night.
“This one stings. It’s going to sting for a while,” said starter-turned-reliever Shane Bieber, who also contributed to the loss with a pivotal pitch.
The defeat was particularly gut-wrenching for Scherzer, who expressed the depth of his feelings towards his teammates. “I’m 41 years old and I never thought I could love baseball this much,” he shared. “That loss is so tough because you’re so close to everybody. This team had that closeness, had that camaraderie.”
Scherzer pitched an impressive 4.3 innings, giving up only one run before leaving the game to a standing ovation. He expressed his determination to continue playing, although he was too emotional to discuss his future in detail.
Bo Bichette provided a spark with a three-run homer in the third inning, but the joy was short-lived as the game spiraled out of control. “I want to be here,” he said regarding his future with the Jays, although he dismissed further questions amid the heartbreak.
The Blue Jays maintained a lead until the ninth inning when Hoffman’s misstep allowed the Dodgers to tie. The crowd’s hope was briefly reignited by a powerful hit from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but even he understood the gravity of the moment. “I knew it wasn’t going anywhere,” he admitted.
In the aftermath, Guerrero made a point to reassure his teammates. “I can’t be any prouder of my teammates and all the things we accomplished this year,” he said, delivering a heartfelt message to each locker.
Manager John Schneider gathered the team for what he termed his first team meeting of the season, focusing on gratitude despite the crushing defeat. “I said thank you probably about 10 times. And that was the main message,” he noted.
Clement, despite setting a postseason record with 30 hits, faced his own disappointment after being denied a game-winning hit in the ninth inning. He expressed his solidarity with Hoffman and Bieber, emphasizing the bond within the team. “We gave it everything we had,” Clement said, reflecting on their journey from last place to the World Series.
The Blue Jays’ remarkable season, which saw them bounce back from a last-place finish in 2024 to winning the AL East and reaching the World Series, came to a heart-wrenching end. Pitcher Kevin Gausman captured the sentiment felt by the team: “Everyone in here is pretty devastated. We’re a really good team. It took them playing perfect to beat us.”
The emotional rollercoaster of Game 7 left the Blue Jays with open wounds but also a sense of pride for their unprecedented journey. As players left the field, the lessons learned and camaraderie built throughout the season will undoubtedly linger, driving them forward into the future.
