Admission by Mason Fluharty of Blue Jays Following Stunning Defeat of Dodgers Revealed
Toronto Blue Jays Secure Thrilling Win Against Los Angeles Dodgers
The Toronto Blue Jays pulled off a nail-biting victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, securing a 5-4 win in a game that went down to the wire.
In the eighth inning, closer Jeff Hoffman issued consecutive walks to Will Smith and Freddie Freeman, blowing a lead for the Blue Jays. However, the team rallied back in the top of the ninth, with rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty entering the game with the bases loaded and one out.
Fluharty, drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Liberty University, made his MLB debut on April 1, 2025, and has been a reliable relief pitcher for the Blue Jays throughout the 2025 season. In this high-pressure situation, Fluharty demonstrated his poise and composure, striking out Shohei Ohtani and then getting Mookie Betts to ground out, sealing the win for the Blue Jays.
The clutch outing was described as "absolute cinema," with Fluharty slamming the door on the Dodgers in a thrilling finish. This feat was not seen since an MLB Hall of Famer, Trevor Hoffman, accomplished it in 2002.
The game started off with a bang, as Shohei Ohtani hit a solo home run for the Dodgers in the first inning. However, the Blue Jays quickly responded, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubling home Bo Bichette in the same inning. Freddie Freeman also hit a solo home run for the Dodgers in the first inning, but the Blue Jays took the lead in the second inning when Addison Barger hit his 18th home run of the year, giving the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead.
Ty France's bloop RBI single in the sixth inning cut the Dodgers' lead to one, but the Blue Jays responded again in the ninth inning, with Ernie Clement restoring Toronto's lead with a first-pitch homer, his eighth of the season.
The win was crucial for the Blue Jays, as they closed out a 4-2 road trip and improved their record to 69-50. The victory also kept the Toronto Blue Jays four games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East and four games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for MLB's best record.
Fluharty was understandably excited about his performance, stating that during Sunday's ninth inning, he had no thinking, no thinking, just went out there and did it. He was super excited, super pumped, and blacked out during the event.
The Blue Jays will have a day off on Monday before opening a homestand against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. With Fluharty's impressive performance, the team will be looking to continue their winning streak and solidify their position at the top of the AL East.
The rookie left-hander, Mason Fluharty, drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB draft, sealed a thrilling win for the Toronto Blue Jays with his composure in the ninth inning, twice echoing his excitement about his clutch outing, "no thinking, just went out there and did it."
This nerve-wracking victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers, reminiscent of Trevor Hoffman's feat in 2002, comes at a crucial time for the Blue Jays, as they maintain a four-game lead in the AL East and a four-game deficit behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the MLB's best record.
