Blue Jays Make History with Grand Slam in World Series

Blue Jays supporters had to wait 32 years to celebrate a World Series home run. They were able to do so on three occasions.

Addison Barger made history by hitting the first pinch-hit grand slam in the Fall Classic, followed by Alejandro Kirk who contributed a two-run homer during a nine-run sixth inning, leading Toronto to a decisive 11-4 victory over the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener on Friday night.

“It was just madness,” Barger remarked about the third-highest-scoring inning recorded in Series history.

Daulton Varsho, who faced limitations due to injuries throughout the season, making only 71 appearances, initiated Toronto’s rally from a 2-0 deficit with a two-run homer in the fourth inning against two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.

The power-hitting display was particularly fitting as the Fall Classic returned to Toronto for the first time since 1993, the year Joe Carter hit the second walk-off homer to conclude a World Series. In an interesting connection to that memorable night, Varsho is named after Darren Daulton, the Philadelphia Phillies catcher who was receiving the pitch from Mitch Williams when Carter made his historic hit.

“It feels like a surreal moment, coming full circle for me. Honestly, it’s a privilege to be named after him,” Varsho expressed.

Shohei Ohtani recorded his inaugural Series home run for the heavily favored Dodgers, who are aiming to become the first team to win consecutive championships since the New York Yankees achieved three titles in a row from 1998 to 2000. Los Angeles was down by nine runs when he hit a two-run homer off Braydon Fisher in the seventh inning, marking his fourth home run in just two games.

Fans, upset that Ohtani chose to reject the Blue Jays in favor of a $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023, shouted: “We don’t need you!” as he approached the plate in the ninth inning.

“Don’t poke the bear,” cautioned Toronto pitcher Chris Bassitt.

Teams that have won Game 1 have claimed 23 of the last 27 championships. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Saturday night at Rogers Centre.

After a week-long break following their sweep in the National League Championship Series, Los Angeles jumped to a 2-0 lead against 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage, thanks to RBI singles from Kiké Hernández in the second inning and Will Smith in the third.

Yesavage made his fourth postseason start, which is one more than his total regular-season starts. At 22 years and 88 days old, he became the second-youngest pitcher to start a World Series opener, following Brooklyn’s Ralph Branca, who was 21 years and 267 days old in 1947 at Yankee Stadium.

Yesavage pitched four innings in front of a lively crowd of 44,353. He left the bases loaded in the second inning by getting Ohtani to ground out and stranded a runner at third base in the next inning by striking out Max Muncy.

“It was an incredible experience that I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Yesavage, whose first start this season took place in front of just 327 fans for Class-A Dunedin in Jupiter, Florida.

Dodgers star Mookie Betts described the second inning as “the turning point in the game, even though it was early.”

“If you want to win, you need to capitalize on those opportunities,” he stated.

Seranthony Domínguez earned the victory with 1 1/3 hitless innings.

Varsho’s home run marked the first time a left-handed batter has hit a homer off Snell since Juan Soto did so for the Yankees on June 2 of the previous year. Snell allowed a career-high of five hits on changeups and was charged with five runs, eight hits, and three walks over five-plus innings.

“There are no excuses. I must improve. I need to throw strikes,” Snell stated, having not pitched since October 13.

This marked Snell’s first appearance in the Series since 2020 with Tampa Bay, where he was taken out in the sixth inning of Game 6 while pitching a shutout against the Dodgers. Los Angeles came back against the Rays’ bullpen to secure their first championship since 1988.

Currently, the Dodgers are pursuing their third title in six years.

After a seven-game ALCS against Seattle that concluded on Monday, Toronto achieved 14 hits with significant contributions from Bo Bichette and Varsho, who, along with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., became the first trio of sons of former major leaguers to start for a single team in a Series game.

Bichette returned from a sprained left knee that had kept him out since September 6, playing second base for the first time in six years while favoring the knee. He recorded a single in the first inning, moved to the left side of the infield to field a ground ball and prevent a run, and then, with the score tied at 2-2, earned a full-count walk from Snell to begin the sixth inning.

Twelve batters came to the plate during that inning. Ernie Clement singled off reliever Emmet Sheehan to give Toronto a 3-2 lead, pinch-hitter Nathan Lukes drew a bases-loaded walk, and Andrés Giménez contributed an RBI single.

After being informed he might pinch hit, Barger utilized the Trajekt machine to practice swings against pitches mimicking Sheehan’s. Subsequently, the Dodgers introduced left-hander Anthony Banda, and Barger launched a 413-foot drive to right-center on a hanging slider, putting Toronto ahead 9-2.

Barger had spent Thursday night on the pullout couch of his teammate Davis Schneider, as he required his own apartment for family members attending the Series.

“I glanced over and observed him sleeping there in the middle of the night,” Schneider remarked. “He’s a bit of a head case, but he’s amusing.”

Kirk, who hit a single off the right-field wall just prior to Varsho’s home run, concluded the offensive surge with his fourth home run of the postseason and his third hit of the game.

“You simply have to let it go,” Banda stated. “Prepare for tomorrow.”

Upcoming

Dodgers right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman are set to start on Saturday night. Yamamoto secured a victory in Game 2 of last year’s Series, allowing only one run and one hit over 6 1/3 innings in a 4-2 win against the Yankees. He is coming off the first complete game in the postseason in eight years, a three-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS. Gausman will be making his debut in the Series.