Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw holds the World Series trophy as Mookie Betts (right) and teammates celebrate, Nov. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
After cruising to the World Series championship a year ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers were favored all season long to repeat. But through eight innings in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series on Saturday night, their repeat bid looked to have come up short against the Toronto Blue Jays.
They trailed all night, and entered the final frame down 4-3. With one out in the top of the ninth, however, the ninth batter in L.A.’s lineup, Miguel Rojas, clubbed a game-tying home run to left field. The second baseman hadn’t collected a hit since Oct. 1, going hitless in his five previous games.
>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<
Rojas added an incredible defensive play in the bottom of the ninth, Dodgers catcher Will Smith slugged a solo shot in the 11th to take the lead, and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts turned an unassisted double play to snatch the 2025 MLB championship. The Dodgers are the first team to win back-to-back World Series since the New York Yankees in 1998-2000.
Overall, it’s the ninth world title for the Dodgers, moving them into third all time (behind the Yankees’ 27 championships, and the St. Louis Cardinals’ 11). They’ve won three of the last six World Series.
“The love that we have for each other in this clubhouse, in this organization, is something I’ve never been a part of,” Betts said after the game. “I love being a Dodger, I love each and every person in here, and it was on display today.”
As Betts made the running throw to first base for the final out, on his right wrist was a “God is greater than the highs and lows” wristband. The phrase is somewhat indicative of Betts’ series.
Through the first five games against Toronto, the eight-time All-Star was hitting just 3-for-23. After Game 5, he told the media, “I’ve just been terrible.” But in the third inning of Game 6, Betts’ single to left drove in two runs, which proved to be the difference in the game and keep the Dodgers’ season alive. He didn’t get a hit Saturday in Game 7, but his lead-off walk in the sixth led to him scoring and cutting Toronto’s lead to one.
Then came the title-clinching double play. Betts made it look routine, but considering he’s spent most of his 12-year MLB career as an outfielder (six career Gold Gloves in right field), it was an impressive play.
“I was so nervous right there,” Betts told Fox Sports after the game. “I’ve never been in that situation. I was so nervous and as he was pitching the ball, I was talking to myself, saying, ‘Be nasty. Mook, just make a play. Be nasty. Be nasty.’ And the ball found me and I just kind of played. All the work in the back fields, it all came to fruition.”
Prior to the World Series, Betts was asked by CBN Sports about how God’s grace has been seen through the ups and downs in his life. He specifically mentioned his move to shortstop.
“Oh, it’s huge,” Betts said. “Just for me moving to short and then praying — a lot of prayers on wanting to be a successful shortstop, especially in His image. But He really just answered all the prayers. I mean, He answers everyone’s prayers as long as you have a relationship with Him, you talk to Him, you come to Him with everything, and I did and He’s definitely led me this far.”
The World Series win is the fourth for Betts, who was traded from the Boston Red Sox (where he won the title in 2018) to the Dodgers in February 2020. Later that year, he helped his new team win a championship for the first time in 32 years.
That title was the first for Dodgers pitching legend Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and 11-time All-Star who announced in September that he would retire after this season. He made only two postseason appearances — one being an eight-pitch relief effort in the 18-inning marathon that was Game 3 of the World Series — but earned his third championship ring nonetheless.
An outspoken follower of Christ during his entire 18-year MLB career, Kershaw cited Colossians 3:23 in his retirement announcement.
“My last thing is my favorite Bible verse. It’s: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as you’re working for the Lord, not for men.’ It’s Colossians. And that’s what I’ve tried to do. Just work at it. Just work at it and love it,” he said.
With Game 7 going into extra innings, Kershaw was called on to begin warming up in the bullpen. Had the game been extended any further, he could’ve added on to the 3,052 innings (including playoffs) he’d already pitched in his career. But he was more than happy to watch the Dodgers’ young stars close out the win.
“I don’t have words, I really don’t,” Kershaw told MLB Network after the game. “It’s the most unbelievable feeling ever to win another one with this group. … This is the perfect way. I couldn’t script this any better. I am so happy that this was my last game I will ever play.”
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
RELATED STORIES:
— Christ-following Freddie Freeman named 2024 World Series MVP
— Faith-focused Dodgers manager Dave Roberts signs extension
— Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw stepping up, grateful for gift ‘God gave me’
— Rangers take 1st World Series title, aided by young Christ-followers
— Faith-driven Framber Valdez helps pitch Astros to World Series title
