Blue Jays magical season ends just short of ultimate goal in Game 7 World Series loss

Absolute heartbreak in Toronto. For a city that was so hungry for a World Series title, and for a franchise to get so agonizingly close, it feels almost cruel that the Toronto Blue Jays aren't World Series champions right now.

The Blue Jays came out on the losing end of a memorable Game 7 that ended 5-4 in 11 innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Blue Jays magical season ends just short of ultimate goal in Game 7 World Series loss

There is no solace in the fact that the Blue Jays weren't supposed to be this close to begin with. Barely given a chance to make the playoffs, the team put together one of the most improbable runs in the regular season to claim their first AL East division title in a decade. Their run in the postseason was just as remarkable, beating the Yankees in Yankee Stadium in the ALDS. Winning Game 7 at home against the Mariners in the ALCS. Taking a 3-2 series lead against the Dodgers in the World Series with the final two games at home.

And in the seventh game of the World Series they were two outs away from winning it all. Two outs that could haunt a franchise for a long long time.

The Blue Jays felt like they were in control for most of the game. They jumped out to an early lead thanks to Bo Bichette's three-run home run in the bottom of the third. But the Dodgers, the defending and now still reigning World Series champions, kept chipping away.

They got to within a run in the sixth inning on a Tommy Edman sacrifice fly. But a double by Andrés Giménez in the bottom half regained the two-run lead for Toronto making it 4-2. Max Muncy hit a solo home run in the eight to get back within a run and Miguel Rojas hit a game tying home run in the top of the ninth with one out in the inning off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman.

The Blue Jays had so many chances to cash in before and after that. In the bottom of the ninth they had the bases loaded and couldn't bring home the winning run on two good plays by the Dodgers. First, Daulton Varsho hit a ground ball to second that Rojas had to back hand and then throw home, just getting the ball ahead of the runner for the force out. Then defensive replacement Andy Pages caught a ball on the warning track on a play where he collided with his fellow outfielder Enrique Hernandez.

After Will Smith hit a go-ahead home run in the 11th inning. The Blue Jays got the tying run on second thanks to a leadoff double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. But a few batters later, Alejandro Kirk grounded into a double play, to end the game, end the series, and give the Dodgers their second straight World Series championship.

It was a disspointing finish for a group that clearly cared about each other and wanted to win for each other. It was a group that felt like a true team of destiny. A team that didn't ever feel like they should be as good as they were, and yet with every game they made you believe that they were a championship caliber team.

Being two outs away from winning it all isn't going to heal quickly. It's going to be a long, bitter offseason for the Blue Jays and their fans. But once that heals, 2025 will be looked upon fondly as a season full of fun, inspiring baseball, and a year in which they made everyone believe in the Blue Jays once again.