Blue Jays' nine-run sixth crushes Dodgers in Game 1 of 2025 Series

When Addison Barger, outfielder of Toronto Blue Jays launched the first pinch‑hit grand slam in World Series history, the entire evening felt like a lightning strike. The drama unfolded at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, October 24, 2025, when the Dodgers fell 11‑4 to the Blue Jays in Game 1. Blake Snell, the two‑time Cy Young winner and starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, struggled to keep the game in check, while rookie Trey Yesavage, Toronto’s youngest starter, struck out five in four innings. Anthony Banda, a relief arm for the Dodgers, watched his night unravel as the sixth inning erupted for nine runs. The night’s chaos was summed up by Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager, who admitted his staff “just didn’t make pitches when we needed to.” John Schneider, the Blue Jays’ manager, simply said the team “built belief” and “played our game.”

Historical context: Toronto’s return to the Fall Classic

The 2025 Series marks the first World Series game ever hosted in Toronto since the iconic 1993 walk‑off by Joe Carter. Back then, the Blue Jays clinched their second title, and the city’s fanbase has long dreamt of a repeat. The last time a Canadian team played in the Fall Classic, the Montreal Expos never made it past the NLCS, leaving a lingering question: could Toronto finally recapture that championship magic? The answer arrived in a single swing—Barger’s 413‑foot grand slam—making history and reminding everyone that the Blue Jays can still write chapters in baseball lore.

Game‑by‑game breakdown: How the sixth inning turned the tide

Los Angeles opened the game strong, with Snell fanning two batters in the first two innings. By the third, the score was tied 2‑2 thanks to a two‑run blast by Daulton Varsho, a Toronto outfielder named after the late Phillies catcher Darren Daulton. The Dodgers responded with a modest rally, but nothing that hinted at the onslaught to come.

The sixth inning began with Snell’s 100th pitch, a high‑fastball that caught Varsho’s upper back, loading the bases. Dodgers’ manager Roberts summoned Emmet Sheehan, a left‑handed reliever, to mop up. Sheehan allowed an RBI single to Ernie Clement and then walked pinch‑hitter Nathan Lukes on a full count. The damage was done, and the Dodgers were suddenly trailing 5‑2.

Enter Banda. He faced Barger, who had been tucked into the left‑field spot all night. Banda’s 2‑1 slider hung just a hair too much over the plate, and Barger sent it 413 feet over the right‑field wall. The crowd at Rogers Centre erupted; the grand slam not only gave the Jays an 8‑2 lead but also cemented Barger’s place in World Series lore.

Moments later, Alejandro Kirk—Toronto’s everyday catcher—smacked a 403‑foot two‑run homer off the same pitcher, stretching the lead to 9‑2. The Dodgers managed a solo run in the seventh, courtesy of Shohei Ohtani, who had switched allegiance from Toronto to Los Angeles in December 2023. Ohtani’s two‑run shot off Braydon Fisher made the final score 11‑4, but it was too little, too late.

Player performances: Stars, surprises, and missed opportunities

• Addison Barger: 1‑0, 4 AB, 1 HR, 4 RBI — historic grand slam.
• Alexand​er Kirk: 1‑2, 2 HR, 2 RBI — extended the lead.
• Daulton Varsho: 2‑4, 2 RBI — sparked the fourth‑inning rally.
• Blake Snell: 5 IP, 2 R — 5 walks, 100 pitches, two‑run homer allowed.
• Anthony Banda: 0.1 IP, 3 R — historic blown save.

On the Dodgers’ side, Freddie Freeman went 0‑3 and could not find a rhythm. The Dodgers’ bullpen collectively logged a 1.05 ERA in the series so far, but the sixth‑inning collapse raises doubts about their depth.

Managerial reactions: How the clubhouse took the news

Roberts, visibly frustrated, said, “We just didn’t make pitches when we needed to to keep that game close.” He added that the bullpen will need to “reset” before Game 2. Across the aisle, Schneider praised his squad’s poise, noting, “It doesn’t matter whether it’s May or August. We believed in our game plan and it paid off today.”

Both managers highlighted the psychological edge gained by early home‑field advantage. Historically, the home team wins Game 1 in a best‑of‑seven series about 67.6% of the time, and Toronto now holds a 1‑0 lead with the chance to dictate the series’ tempo.

Impact and outlook: What this means for the rest of the series

The Dodgers, defending champions looking to become the first repeat winner since the Yankees’ three‑peat (1998‑2000), now face a mountain. If they can’t halt Toronto’s momentum, they risk falling into a 3‑0 hole—a scenario that has only been survived five times in modern baseball history.

For the Blue Jays, the win fuels confidence but also adds pressure. Their pitchers must stay sharp; a single bad outing could swing the series back. With a schedule that gives them another home game on Saturday, October 25, they have a chance to clinch the series early or at least build a 2‑0 lead.

Statistical perspective: Numbers that tell the story

1. Dodgers’ bullpen surrendered 9 runs in a single inning – the most ever in a World Series game.
2. Blue Jays became the first team to hit a pinch‑hit grand slam in World Series history.
3. Snell threw 100 pitches before being pulled, matching his career‑high for pitches in a postseason start.
4. The attendance at Rogers Centre was 48,283, the highest for a World Series opener in Canada since 1993.
5. Home‑team win probability for Game 1 in a 2‑3‑2 format sits at 67.6%; Toronto now enjoys that statistical edge.