Addison Barger Grand Slam Fuels Blue Jays’ Nine-Run World Series

The opening game of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers looked like a classic postseason duel—at least for a while. Everything changed in the sixth inning, when Toronto exploded for nine runs and ran away with an emphatic 11-4 win.

That inning wasn’t just a turning point, it was historic. The Blue Jays took control of the series and carved out a spot in the MLB record books.

Early Tension Sets the Stage

Game 1 started tight. Both teams traded early blows, and by the sixth, it was knotted at 2-2.

Dodgers starter Blake Snell had held his own, but Toronto’s lineup started brewing trouble. The first three Jays of the inning reached base, and that’s when things unraveled for LA.

The Key Turning Point

After Snell left, reliever Emmett Sheehan walked into a bases-loaded, no-out mess. He couldn’t stop the bleeding—Toronto quickly pushed ahead 5-2 before Sheehan even recorded an out.

Hits from Ernie Clement and Andres Gimenez plus a bases-loaded walk to Nathan Lukes kept the line moving. The Dodgers just looked stunned.

The Grand Slam That Made History

Veteran George Springer briefly slowed the rally with a fielder’s choice, but the bases stayed loaded. Pinch-hitter Addison Barger stepped in against lefty Anthony Banda.

Barger didn’t waste time. On a 1-1 pitch, he launched a 413-foot grand slam to right. It was the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, according to MLB analyst Sarah Langs.

The Final Crushing Blow

Toronto had all the momentum, but they wanted more. Two batters later, catcher Alejandro Kirk smashed a two-run homer, making it 11-2 Jays.

The Dodgers scraped back two runs, but let’s be honest, the game was done. That nine-run inning was the most in a World Series frame since the Tigers scored 10 in 1968.

Key Takeaways From Game 1

After three decades covering baseball, I’ll say it—momentum swings in October are brutal and fast. This game was a perfect example. The Dodgers went from even to buried in about 20 minutes.

Some moments stood out:

• Addison Barger’s pinch-hit grand slam – how often do you see that, even in the regular season?
• Toronto’s patience at the plate – bases-loaded walks and smart hitting wore out LA’s bullpen.
• Hits up and down the lineup – the Dodgers couldn’t zero in on one dangerous bat.
• Historic offense – most runs in a World Series inning in over half a century.

Implications for the Rest of the Series

The psychological fallout from Game 1? It’s real. The Dodgers need to regroup and fix their pitching fast, while the Jays are rolling into Game 2 with swagger.

Toronto’s hitters know they can get it done from anywhere in the lineup. That’s a manager’s dream, honestly.

Looking Ahead

If Los Angeles wants to even the series, they’ll need a sharper defensive strategy. Better bullpen execution wouldn’t hurt, either.

Toronto will probably keep pushing early and try to keep the Dodgers’ pitchers sweating. Game 1 proved, yet again, that one wild inning can flip everything—especially when the World Series lights are blazing.

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