Before Game 7, Blue Jays owner Edward Rogers remarked, “It’s a fairytale, and we’re excited for the happy ending.” For Canadian fans, this was the moment they had been waiting for since 1993: a chance to finally bring the trophy home. The Dodgers, on the other hand, had other ideas. When Will Smith’s home run went over the fence in the 11th inning and gave Los Angeles a 5–4 win, the misery wasn’t just in Rogers Centre. It spread across screens all around the country.

In the third inning, Bo Bichette hit a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani, giving Toronto a 3-0 lead. The crowd cheered. Hope spread like wildfire across Canada. Fans were already tasting champagne when the Blue Jays were up 4-3 in the ninth inning and only two outs away from winning. Then Miguel Rojas came up to bat and hit a solo home run to tie the game. Smith struck the final blow two innings later. Toronto’s fairytale came to an end in extra innings.

Soon after, a video of a supporter going crazy over the loss started circulating on social media. The video, which went viral on X, showed a fan punching his TV while yelling in anger, “F—.” Reports say the fan had $30,000 on the line, but it’s not clear what kind of financial loss it was. It shows how many fans cared about what appeared to be Toronto’s moment of destiny.

In just a few minutes, the streets of Toronto outside Rogers Centre went from being full of people celebrating to being quiet. “I think I felt every feeling today,” one fan stated, her voice breaking. The game had its ups and downs. The Blue Jays were ahead. They had chances. The bases were full in the ninth. But they couldn’t lock it up. As fans left the ballpark, the phrase “gutted” was echoed by another fan.

Not only among the fans, but the same sentiment was seen across the Blue Jays dugout. From Vladdy Jr. sitting in silence with teary eyes to Clement saying, “been crying, for like probably for an hour,” reflects how devastating it was for Toronto.

Meanwhile, in LA, the streets were so full and fans went gaga that the LAPD was authorised to use tear gas to control the situation.

The Blue Jays might have lost, but they have also united the fans, as one of the supporters said, “I’m very proud of this team”, and they want them to win next year. Well, the skipper also carries the same mindset.

Focused forward: Schneider sees growth despite the loss

Blue Jays manager John Schneider is still thinking about the good things that came out of Toronto’s amazing postseason journey, even if they lost in Game 7. The club, which few thought would get this far, took the Dodgers to 11 innings in the last game, which is a statement in itself. Schneider stressed that this wasn’t a failure of effort, but a sign of progress.

After the Dodgers won 5–4, Schneider commented, “We have set a new expectation and a new standard here and did it with a lot of hard work.” “Going back to the beginning of the series when people were calling it David versus Goliath, it’s not even close.”

Tyler Heineman, the catcher, said the same thing via his Instagram, “Thank you to the best fans in the game. We have set the standard. And you better believe we will be back sooner rather than later. Until 2026.”

This season wasn’t just about winning a championship for the Blue Jays; it was also about showing that they were one of the best teams in baseball. Fans from all over Canada saw the youthful roster’s strength, maturity, and fight. Schneider says that even though they are still upset, this event has made the group stronger and more united, and they are ready to build on the momentum.

After such a setback, it’s not always easy to see the bright side, but Schneider’s statement gave everyone hope—hope that went beyond one stormy night and toward a new chapter for the team.