The Blue Jays will feel aggrieved after a controversial umpiring call prevented them from levelling the score in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch from reliever Roki Sasaki and replaced by speedy pinch-runner Myles Straw, before Addison Barger’s line drive wedged under the wall in left centre field.
But instead of allowing Straw and Barger to score, the play was ruled to be a ground rule double,, external putting the runners on second and third.
A ground rule double is typically signalled when a ball hit fair is deemed to be impossible to field in the layout of a particular stadium, such as when it becomes trapped under a tarpaulin, and runners are allowed to advance by two bases.
The hosts challenged the call, arguing that a fielder could easily have retrieved the ball, but the on-field decision was upheld by video review.
And with the tying run in scoring position, Andres Gimenez drove into a double play to end the game.
Earlier, the Dodgers drew first blood on Halloween night as Tommy Edman doubled, Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked, and Smith’s double to left field sent Edman home.
Freddie Freeman drew a walk to load the bases, and Betts’ two-run single gave the visitors what proved to be a decisive lead to force a decider.
Game seven takes place on Saturday evening, again at the Rogers Centre.
