Post by : Maya Rahman

The Toronto Blue Jays marked a significant milestone in their first World Series appearance in 32 years by defeating the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers 11–4 in Game 1 at Rogers Centre. The spotlight was on Addison Barger, who made history by hitting the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series play, while Alejandro Kirk added a crucial two-run homer, igniting a thrilling comeback that thrilled the home crowd and gave Toronto a 1–0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Initially, the Dodgers took control with a 2–0 lead, courtesy of RBI singles from Enrique Hernández and Will Smith against Toronto's rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage. At 22, Yesavage, making only his fourth postseason start, became the second-youngest pitcher to launch a World Series opener. Despite being rattled initially, he managed to prevent further scoring, escaping bases-loaded situations in the second and third innings.

Toronto's charge began in the fourth inning when Kirk connected for a single off the right-field wall. Daulton Varsho then blasted a 423-foot homer to center off Blake Snell, who hadn’t surrendered a home run to a left-handed hitter in nearly five months. These hits narrowed the Dodgers’ lead and set the stage for a historic turn of events in the sixth inning.

In the sixth, Snell ran into trouble, allowing a walk to Bo Bichette, who made his return after a seven-week knee injury absence. Following Kirk's single, a hit by pitch on Varsho loaded the bases. Ernie Clement’s RBI single and a bases-loaded walk to Nathan Lukes swung the lead in Toronto's favor. Andrés Giménez then expanded the gap with an RBI single, prompting Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to call for Anthony Banda. Barger capitalized, smashing Banda’s slider for a historic grand slam, marking the very first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. Kirk capped off the inning with his fourth postseason homer, sealing the game for the Blue Jays.

Shohei Ohtani briefly revitalized Los Angeles with a two-run homer off Braydon Fisher in the seventh inning, but the Dodgers were already trailing by seven runs. The home crowd erupted in chants of “We don’t need you!” during Ohtani’s ninth-inning at-bat. Snell's struggles saw him allowing five runs and eight hits over just over five frames, while Seranthony Domínguez clinched the win with one and one-third hitless innings of relief. Yesavage impressed with five strikeouts in four innings, showcasing poise under pressure.

The Blue Jays racked up 14 hits, with Kirk contributing three and Bichette, returning to second base for the first time since 2019, adding two. The blend of timely hitting, strong relief pitching, and unforgettable moments made Game 1 one for the history books.

Game 2 is set for Saturday night at Rogers Centre, featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles against Toronto's ace Kevin Gausman. The series then heads to Los Angeles for Games 3–5 starting Monday, providing the Dodgers an opportunity to bounce back after their difficult opener.

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