Blue Jays batter Dodgers with nine-run sixth inning to take World Series opener | World Series

Addison Barger hit the first grand slam in World Series history and Alejandro Kirk added a two-run homer as the Toronto Blue Jays stormed back to crush the defending champions. Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 in Friday night's opener at the Rogers Center.

Playing in their first fall classic in 32 years, the Blue Jays put together nine runs in the sixth inning, turning a 2–0 deficit into a blowout that electrified the sold-out home crowd and gave Toronto a 1–0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Barger's 413-foot blast to center capped a historic inning that also featured Kirk's homer and a parade of baserunners against a shell-shocked Dodgers bullpen.

Los Angeles, seeking to become the first team in a quarter century to win back-to-back titles, took an early lead on RBI singles from Enrique Hernandez and Will Smith from Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage. The 22-year-old right-hander, making just his fourth postseason appearance, became the second-youngest pitcher ever to start. World Series opener Despite the early jitters, Yesavage limited the damage by avoiding a jam with the bases loaded in the second and getting another runner in the third.

Toronto began their comeback in the fourth when Kirk singled the right field wall and Dalton Varsho followed with a 423-foot homer to center Blake Snell, who had not allowed a home run to a left-handed hitter in nearly five months.

Snell took a hit in the sixth, giving up a walk to Bo Bichette, playing his first game in seven weeks after injuring his knee, followed by a Kirk single and Varsho's hit behind the pitch to load the bases. After Ernie Clement's RBI single and a bases-loaded walk to Nathan Lukes gave Toronto the lead, Andres Jimenez made it 5–2 with an RBI single to right. Manager Dave Roberts turned to Anthony Banda after pitcher Emmett Sheehan failed to record an out, but Barger crushed Banda's hanging slider in the dead of night, delivering a grand slam that made history and put the game out of reach. Kirk followed moments later with his fourth homer of the postseason, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Shohei Ohtani, who drew boos all night for turning down Toronto's $700 million offer to sign with the Dodgers in December 2023, provided a brief spark with a two-run homer from Braydon Fisher in the seventh. But by then the Dodgers were trailing by seven, and chants of “We don’t need you!” echoed around the dome as Ohtani struck in the ninth round.

Snell was plated for five runs and eight hits in five-plus innings. Seranthony Dominguez earned the win with one and one-third hitless innings, while Yesavage struck out five in four gutsy frames. The Blue Jays finished with 14 hits, including three from Kirk and two from Bichette, who returned to second base for the first time since 2019.

The Dodgers, the team with the highest payroll in baseball, looked rusty after a week off after winning the National League Championship Series. Their bid for a third title in six years depends on a quick return to form.

Game two is Saturday night at Rogers Center. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start for Los Angeles against Toronto ace Kevin Gausman. The series moves to Los Angeles for Games 3-5, starting Monday.