Blue Jays Explode for 9 Runs to Stun Dodgers in World Series Game 1

TORONTO — The wait was worth it. After 32 years away from baseball's biggest stage, the Toronto Blue Jays announced their return to the World Series with authority, overwhelming the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 in Game 1 on Friday night at Rogers Centre.

In front of a supercharged crowd of 44,357 fans who had waited more than three decades for this moment, the Blue Jays turned what began as a tense pitchers' duel into a historic rout, courtesy of a nine-run sixth inning that ranks as the third-highest scoring frame in World Series history.

History Made in the Sixth

The game's defining moment came from an unlikely hero. Addison Barger, who started this season in the minor leagues before being recalled in mid-April, delivered the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. The 413-foot blast to right-center field broke open a close game and sent Rogers Centre into bedlam.

"It was a 12-batter onslaught, a beatdown that started with a leadoff walk, accelerated with a grand slam that made World Series history and ended with a pile-on two-run homer," wrote USA Today's Gabe Lacques, capturing the sheer dominance of Toronto's offensive explosion.

The Blue Jays' sixth-inning barrage began innocuously enough with a Bo Bichette walk — his first plate appearance since September 6 after recovering from a knee injury. But from there, Toronto's deep roster took over. Pinch-hitter Nathan Lukes drew a bases-loaded walk, Ernie Clement delivered an RBI single, and then Barger provided the knockout blow.

Defending Champions Face Rare Adversity

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, accustomed to playoff dominance, Friday's loss marked unfamiliar territory. The defending World Series champions entered the game having allowed just five runs over their previous five playoff games, making Toronto's offensive eruption all the more stunning.

Blake Snell, who had posted a microscopic 0.86 ERA through three postseason starts entering the night, couldn't escape the sixth inning. After loading the bases with nobody out, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turned to his bullpen, but relief pitchers Emmet Sheehan and Anthony Banda couldn't stem the tide.

"The Blue Jays feasted on Dodgers relief," noted USA Today, as Toronto sent 12 batters to the plate in the historic frame.

Vesia's Absence Looms Large

The Dodgers' bullpen struggles were compounded by the absence of lefty reliever Alex Vesia, who was away from the team dealing with a family emergency. Vesia had been one of Los Angeles' top leverage arms, posting a 3.02 ERA during the regular season with 80 strikeouts over 59.2 innings. His unavailability forced the Dodgers to rely more heavily on less proven relievers in high-pressure situations.

Kirk Caps the Onslaught

If Barger's grand slam was the exclamation point, Alejandro Kirk's two-run homer provided the final signature. The beloved 5-foot-8 catcher, who had recorded the first hit of the sixth inning with a single, came back up later in the frame and launched a shot to left field that made it 11-2.

Kirk's performance epitomized Toronto's depth. He finished 4-for-4 on the night, reaching base in all four plate appearances and driving in three runs. The catcher's hot hitting continued a trend from earlier in the playoffs, where he posted a .442 average with an .930 slugging percentage.

Early Drama Sets the Stage

Before the sixth-inning explosion, the game featured plenty of tension. Daulton Varsho tied the score 2-2 in the fourth inning with a two-run homer to straightaway center field — notably, the first home run Snell had surrendered to a left-handed hitter all season.

That blast came after 22-year-old Blue Jays rookie starter Trey Yesavage had navigated through early trouble. The young right-hander, pitching on four days' rest for one of the first times in his career, struck out Shohei Ohtani to open the game and retired the side in order in the first inning.

Though Yesavage struggled with command at times — walking three batters and throwing 71 pitches through three innings — he limited the damage and kept Toronto within striking distance.

Ohtani's Late Homer

Shohei Ohtani provided a brief moment of hope for the Dodgers with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, his first career World Series home run. The blast came after Ohtani had started the game 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, extending his postseason struggles. But by then, the game was already out of reach at 11-2.

Historical Context

The nine-run inning matched the highest-scoring frame in a World Series game since 1968, when the Detroit Tigers scored 10 runs in Game 6 on their way to winning the championship. Only the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics, who overcame an 8-0 deficit with a 10-run eighth inning in Game 4, have scored more runs in a single World Series frame.

For Toronto, the victory provided sweet validation after their long absence from October's biggest stage. The last time the Blue Jays appeared in the World Series was 1993, when Joe Carter's walk-off home run against the Philadelphia Phillies secured back-to-back championships.

"Toronto waited 32 years for a Fall Classic contest, and while it's perhaps short-sighted to say the wait was worth it, for a few frenzied minutes Friday night, a case could be made," wrote USA Today.

Looking Ahead to Game 2

The Blue Jays will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead on Saturday night, with Kevin Gausman scheduled to face the Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Both teams enter that matchup knowing that the road team winning Game 1 historically bodes well for claiming the championship.

For Los Angeles, the challenge will be regrouping from their worst loss of the postseason while finding a way to slow down Toronto's potent offense. The Dodgers' pitching staff, which had been nearly impenetrable throughout October, now faces questions about depth and effectiveness.

Toronto, meanwhile, will aim to capitalize on home-field advantage and their newfound momentum. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continuing his torrid postseason pace (.442 average, six home runs) and role players like Barger stepping up in crucial moments, the Blue Jays have shown they have the depth and firepower to compete with the game's best team.

Conclusion

Game 1 of the 2025 World Series will be remembered for Addison Barger's historic grand slam and Toronto's nine-run sixth inning that turned a competitive game into a statement victory. The Blue Jays proved they belong on baseball's biggest stage, while the Dodgers face the unfamiliar position of playing from behind in a World Series for the first time during their recent dynasty.

As the series shifts to Game 2 on Saturday night, one thing is certain: after 32 years of waiting, Toronto's return to the Fall Classic has been nothing short of spectacular. The only question now is whether they can sustain this momentum and capture their third championship in franchise history.