The Los Angeles Dodgers, nearly down to their final out, tied Game 7 of the World Series at 4-4 in stunning fashion—thanks to one of the most unlikely heroes imaginable.
Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman entered the ninth inning just three outs away from delivering Toronto’s first World Series title since 1993. He struck out Kiké Hernández swinging to start the frame before facing Miguel Rojas.
Rojas battled through a full count before crushing a line-drive home run to left field, silencing the Rogers Centre crowd and tying the game at four. Shohei Ohtani followed with a deep flyout for the second out, and Will Smith struck out to end the inning. Still, the Dodgers had done the unthinkable—forcing the Blue Jays to bat in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to win it, or else head to extra innings.
For Rojas, it was a storybook moment. The veteran shortstop has never been known for his power, surpassing 10 home runs in a season just once, when he hit 11 in 2018. This season, Rojas hit seven home runs for Los Angeles, after hitting six or fewer in each of the previous three seasons.
His clutch blast was also his first home run of this postseason—and it came at the biggest moment of his career.
Despite an incredible playoff run by the Blue Jays, the Dodgers now hold the momentum as Game 7 edges closer to extra innings. One swing from Rojas may have changed everything for Los Angeles.