Blue Jays Smash Dodgers in Historic World Series Opener
The 2025 World Series could not have started with more drama and energy as the Toronto Blue Jays stormed to an 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 at Rogers Centre. This wasn’t just a win—it was a statement from a team many had written off as underdogs against baseball’s most expensive and star-studded lineup.
Toronto hadn’t hosted a World Series game since 1993, so the atmosphere inside Rogers Centre was electric. Fans came to relive history, and the Blue Jays delivered exactly that. The night turned historic when Addison Barger, a player who began the year in the minor leagues, smashed the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. His stunning swing in the bottom of the sixth inning ignited a nine-run explosion—Toronto’s biggest single-inning haul in a Fall Classic since 1968.
For most of the early game, it felt like a tight contest. The Dodgers, fresh off another dominant postseason run, took an early 2-0 lead thanks to RBIs from Enrique Hernandez and Will Smith. But Toronto fought back. Daulton Varsho tied things up with a two-run homer, and that seemed to light a fire under the Blue Jays.
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Everything changed in the sixth inning. Dodgers starter Blake Snell loaded the bases, forcing manager Dave Roberts to turn to his bullpen—a decision that backfired spectacularly. Reliever Emmet Sheehan walked in a run, Andres Gimenez drove in another, and then came Barger's thunderous grand slam that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Moments later, Alejandro Kirk added a two-run shot of his own, putting Toronto ahead 11-2.
Shohei Ohtani tried to spark a late Dodgers comeback with a two-run homer in the seventh, but by then, the game was out of reach. The chants of “We don’t need him!” echoed through Rogers Centre—a cheeky reminder that Toronto had once tried to sign Ohtani before he joined the Dodgers.
The night also carried a touch of nostalgia. Former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, who guided Toronto to back-to-back championships in 1992 and 1993, threw the ceremonial first pitch. It was as if the franchise’s golden era had returned—if only for one night.
For the Dodgers, who boast a payroll larger than some entire franchises, this was a humbling loss. Their powerful lineup and star pitching rotation couldn’t contain Toronto’s disciplined, contact-heavy offense. The Blue Jays proved that patience and teamwork can still beat big spending and star power.
With Game 2 also set in Toronto, the pressure is now squarely on Los Angeles to respond. The Blue Jays, however, have already flipped the script—showing the baseball world that belief and momentum can sometimes matter more than money and reputation.
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