Grand Opening: Barger hits grand slam as Jays thump Dodgers 11-4 in Game 1

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays waited 32 long years to get back to the World Series.

They made sure their return to the Fall Classic was a memorable one.

Addison Barger hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history and Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk hit two-run homers as Toronto rolled to an 11-4 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 on Friday.

“I think we showed we’re not an easy opponent,” said Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes. “We’re going to grind them down.”

The Blue Jays did just that in front of a raucous sellout crowd of 44,353 that was hanging on every pitch.

Toronto chased Dodgers starter Blake Snell after loading the bases with nobody out in the sixth inning. Nine runs in the frame — highlighted by the Barger slam — sealed the deal.

Kirk had three of Toronto’s 14 hits. Barger, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer and Ernie Clement had two hits apiece.

“Those were some pretty terrific at-bats from everyone up and down the order,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who were held to six hits.

Snell gave up five earned runs and eight hits. Relievers Emmet Sheehan and Anthony Banda each gave up three earned runs.

“We just didn’t make pitches when we needed to to keep that game close,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Game 2 was scheduled for Saturday night at Rogers Centre. Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (2-1, 2.00 ERA) was to start against Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 1.83).

Before Game 1, Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering a knee sprain seven weeks ago. He moved to second base and had one hit and a walk in the cleanup position.

“He’s been the focal point of our offence for a long time and to come in and not try to do too much was impressive,” Schneider said.

The Dodgers scratched out a couple early runs against Toronto rookie starter Trey Yesavage, who was pulled after throwing 80 pitches over four innings.

Varsho tied the game with a blast to straightaway centre field in the bottom of the fourth and Bichette helped start the rally in the sixth.

He drew a leadoff walk before being replaced by pinch-runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Kirk singled and Varsho was hit by a pitch.

Clement drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single, Lukes drew a bases-loaded walk and Andres Gimenez made it 5-2 with an RBI single.

After Springer hit into a forceout, Barger belted a Banda slider 413 feet over the wall in right-centre field. Rogers Centre felt like it was shaking.

“It was just madness,” Barger said. “The fans are so energetic and we really feel it.”

The Toronto game plan worked to perfection. Try to get Snell’s pitch count up and attack the Dodgers’ bullpen, one of the defending champions’ few weak spots.

The Blue Jays are known for putting the ball in play and avoiding strikeouts. When the offence is clicking like it has all October, the opposition can be left on its heels.

“Obviously we’re not expecting to score that many runs,” said Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt, who worked the eighth inning. “But that is exactly how we have built our team.

“It’s one through 11 or 12 can beat you at any moment.”

The winner of Game 1 has gone on to win the World Series 64.2 per cent of the time. The series will shift to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Tuesday. Game 5, if necessary, is Wednesday in Los Angeles.

This is the third time the Blue Jays have reached the Fall Classic. They beat the Atlanta Braves in 1992 and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press