Jays feel sting of defeat as Game 7 of World Series slips away - ESPN

TORONTO — Third baseman Ernie Clement's eyes welled up as he spoke to reporters on one end of the clubhouse while tears flowed down the left side of pitcher Max Scherzer's face on the other side of the room. Meanwhile, closer Jeff Hoffman's voice wavered and cracked as he accepted blame for the Toronto Blue Jays' devastating, extra-innings defeat in Saturday's Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The postgame emotions of the team were raw and unfiltered.

«It sucks,» Hoffman said after the 5-4 loss. «Supposed to end differently. Was just one pitch. I cost everybody here a World Series ring. It feels pretty s---ty.»

Hoffman was two outs from earning the save, which would have sent a whole country into celebration. Instead, Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas took him deep on a 3-2 slider, tying the score. Two innings later, Dodgers catcher Will Smith did the same to starter-turned-reliever Shane Bieber, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night and the final margin of victory.

«Hung a slider to a great guy who hits sliders well,» Bieber said. «He was looking for it. I didn't execute. This one stings. It's going to sting for a while. This game is not for the faint of heart.»

Scherzer said Saturday's loss was all the more heartbreaking because of the camaraderie within the team.

«I'm 41 years old and I never thought I could love baseball this much,» Scherzer said while wiping away tears. «My love for the game was so strong because of their love for the game.

»That loss is so tough because you're so close to everybody. This team had that closeness, had that camaraderie. We had that passion not only for the game but for each other."

Scherzer, 41, pitched 4⅓ innings in Game 7, giving up just one