'Gutted' Blue Jays left reeling after World Series slips from their grasp Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY November 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM 0 'Gutted' Blue Jays left reeling after World Series slips from their grasp TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays absorbed a 24hour gut punch that may never again be experienced in World Series history. And the emotional reaction was proportional. Have you ever seen a franchise player with tears in his eyes before departing the dugout, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- - 'Gutted' Blue Jays left reeling after World Series slips from their grasp
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY November 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM
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'Gutted' Blue Jays left reeling after World Series slips from their grasp
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays absorbed a 24-hour gut punch that may never again be experienced in World Series history. And the emotional reaction was proportional.
Have you ever seen a franchise player with tears in his eyes before departing the dugout, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did? Or a salty, 36-year-old pitcher like Chris Bassitt stumble over his words and compose himself when pondering whether he'd be back in 2026?
Or Mad Max Scherzer, always on tilt, but in the wee moments of Nov. 2 reduced to just one word he said described the emotional state of the team.
"Gutted," he said.
It's understandable.
1 / 32025 World Series: All the best moments from Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Game 7Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) prays before Game 7.
The Blue Jays took a 3-2 Series lead back to Rogers Centre, two chances to close out a Los Angeles Dodgers team that was supposed to be indomitable but, by this stage, was clearly vulnerable. And goodness, a championship was there for the taking.
Instead, two sudden endings, one stunning relief failure and a pair of late home runs catapulted the Dodgers to victories in Games 6 and 7, the 3-1 and 5-4 results boosting them to Major League Baseball's first repeat championships in 25 years.
Both games ended with the Dodgers skipping giddily, disbelievingly off the field, like they made off with a bag of jewels just before the gendarmes caught on to their heist.
That's certainly how the Blue Jays felt.
After all, they had the tying runs in scoring position in Game 6 and the Series-winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. And the tying run 90 feet away and Series-winning run at first base in the bottom of the 11th one night later, Game 7 and a championship wavering in the balance.
Both nights, they hit into game-ending double plays.
In Game 7, they were two outs from their first World Series championship since 1993, nursing a 4-3 ninth-inning lead when Miguel Rojas – he of the seven homers in 2025, the one extra-base hit in 51 career postseason at-bats – clubbed a hanging slider from closer Jeff Hoffman over the Blue Jays bullpen in left field, the ball caught by a fan who immediately realized how depressing this moment was for the 44,713 on hand.
To say nothing of the 26 Blue Jays who saw a title snatched from them two nights in a row. Yet in Game 7, unlike the baserunning gaffe committed by Addison Barger that ended Game 6, the culprit was more direct.
The last Blue Jays championship was won when Joe Carter turned around World Series Game 6 with a walk-off three-run homer off Philadelphia Phillies reliever Mitch Williams, a failure that followed Wild Thing around the rest of his career.
Hoffman seemed to grasp the ramifications of his gopher ball.
"I cost everybody in here a World Series ring," he told reporters. "It was supposed to end differently."
Instead, a river of champagne was replaced by a reservoir of tears. Ernie Clement, who set a postseason record with 30 hits and nearly hit a walk-off, Series-ending grand slam only for Andy Pages to haul the ball in at the wall, told reporters he cried for an hour after the game.
He was still welled up after all that.
"I thought I was done with the tears," Clement said. "I just could not wait to come to the field every day. I just love these guys so much. It's all I care about.
"We gave it everything we had. When you fall short but you can say you left it all out there, there's something to be proud of there."
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) and pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) react after Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) is hit by a pitch in the fourth inning in Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre on Nov 1, 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/FnpRYiU class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) and pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) react after Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) is hit by a pitch in the fourth inning in Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre on Nov 1, 2025.
">Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) and pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) react after Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) is hit by a pitch in the fourth inning in Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre on Nov 1, 2025.
" src=https://ift.tt/FnpRYiU class=caas-img>Toronto Blue Jays second basemen Andres Gimenez (0) reacts after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre on Nov 1, 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/zbKEixS class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
Toronto Blue Jays second basemen Andres Gimenez (0) reacts after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre on Nov 1, 2025.
">Toronto Blue Jays second basemen Andres Gimenez (0) reacts after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre on Nov 1, 2025.
" src=https://ift.tt/zbKEixS class=caas-img>Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) reacts after the benches clear in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/X4f2IKw class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) reacts after the benches clear in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
">Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) reacts after the benches clear in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
" src=https://ift.tt/X4f2IKw class=caas-img>The benches clear in the fourth inning between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ClyfQSF class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
The benches clear in the fourth inning between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
">The benches clear in the fourth inning between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
" src=https://ift.tt/ClyfQSF class=caas-img>Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) holds back pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) after Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) is hit by a pitch during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/qmQ7MR0 class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) holds back pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) after Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) is hit by a pitch during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
">Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) holds back pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) after Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) is hit by a pitch during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series.
" src=https://ift.tt/qmQ7MR0 class=caas-img>The Los Angeles Dodgers bench is restrained by MLB officials after both benches cleared in the fourth inning of the World Series on Nov. 1, 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/dDEAsGn class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
The Los Angeles Dodgers bench is restrained by MLB officials after both benches cleared in the fourth inning of the World Series on Nov. 1, 2025.
">The Los Angeles Dodgers bench is restrained by MLB officials after both benches cleared in the fourth inning of the World Series on Nov. 1, 2025.
" src=https://ift.tt/dDEAsGn class=caas-img>Andrés Giménez of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on as the benches clear after he was hit by a pitch from the Dodgers' Justin Wrobleski during the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 01, 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/qckZ2Ei class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
Andrés Giménez of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on as the benches clear after he was hit by a pitch from the Dodgers' Justin Wrobleski during the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 01, 2025.
">Andrés Giménez of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on as the benches clear after he was hit by a pitch from the Dodgers' Justin Wrobleski during the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 01, 2025.
" src=https://ift.tt/qckZ2Ei class=caas-img>Benches clear after the Blue Jays' Andrés Giménez was hit by a pitch from Justin Wrobleski.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/dSXbQGW class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
Benches clear after the Blue Jays' Andrés Giménez was hit by a pitch from Justin Wrobleski.
">Benches clear after the Blue Jays' Andrés Giménez was hit by a pitch from Justin Wrobleski.
" src=https://ift.tt/dSXbQGW class=caas-img>Benches clear after Blue Jays' Andrés Giménez was hit by a pitch from Justin Wrobleski of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/62ZpeVc class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
Benches clear after Blue Jays' Andrés Giménez was hit by a pitch from Justin Wrobleski of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre.
">Benches clear after Blue Jays' Andrés Giménez was hit by a pitch from Justin Wrobleski of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre.
" src=https://ift.tt/62ZpeVc class=caas-img>Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers holds back Justin Wrobleski #70 after the benches clear during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/NGyJtx5 class=caas-img data-headline="World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7" data-caption="
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers holds back Justin Wrobleski #70 after the benches clear during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
">Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers holds back Justin Wrobleski #70 after the benches clear during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
" src=https://ift.tt/NGyJtx5 class=caas-img>
1 / 10World Series erupts as Blue Jays, Dodgers clear benches in Game 7
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) and pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) react after Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) is hit by a pitch in the fourth inning in Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre on Nov 1, 2025.
Indeed, the Blue Jays landed haymaker after haymaker on the Dodgers, who emerged impressed with their opponent. Blue Jays manager John Schneider bristled profanely one last time at the characterization that this was a "David vs. Goliath" battle.
True. But they certainly bore some of the blame, stranding 14 runners in Game 7 and getting one hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Now, on to a tenuous future.
Scherzer, their Game 7 starter, Bassitt and late-season acquisition Shane Bieber can become free agents. Yet the biggest question mark is shortstop Bo Bichette, who probably played his way into a nine-figure contract with an excellent season followed by a gallant World Series performance (eight hits in 23 at-bats, .923 OPS) after he sat out seven weeks with a knee sprain that kept him out of the first two rounds of the playoffs.
The young core of Guerrero and emerging apparent stars such as Clement and Addison Barger and playoff ace Trey Yesavage augur very good things for the future. Yet when they report to Dunedin, Florida in just three months for spring training, the residue from this World Series conclusion may linger.
"We're a team. Win and lose as a team," says Scherzer. "Everyone in here is gutted. Just disbelief."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blue Jays' World Series loss to Dodgers leaves clubhouse 'gutted'
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: November 02, 2025 at 05:28PM on Source: LUCIE MAG
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