Blue Jays' nine‑run sixth crushes Dodgers in Game 1, 2025 World Series

On Friday, Oct 25 2025, the Toronto Blue Jays turned a 2‑2 tie into an 11‑4 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World SeriesRogers Centre. The dramatic swing came in the sixth inning when rookie Trey Yesavage, right‑handed pitcher for the Blue Jays, entered the game, and utility man Addison Barger smashed a historic pinch‑hit grand slam, the first ever in World Series history.

Facing him was left‑handed ace Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, who arrived with a sparkling 0.86 postseason ERA after an eight‑inning, one‑hit, 10‑strikeout masterpiece in the NLCS. Yet after 84 pitches and a 2‑2 deadlock, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the painful call to pull Snell as the Blue Jays loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth.

Game Overview and the Sixth‑Inning Explosion

The opening frame was a pitcher’s duel. Snell struck out three, walked none, and kept the Dodgers’ leadoff man from reaching base. Meanwhile, Toronto’s starter, Kevin Gausman, had settled in, but it was the Blue Jays’ relentless pressure that set the tone. After a leadoff single and a stolen base, the Dodgers answered with a two‑run single, tying the game at 2‑2 by the end of the fourth.

Then came the sixth. Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk was already in the lineup as the catcher, and after Yesavage’s first‑inning strikeout, he drew a walk to start the inning. A singles‑double combo followed, and the bases were loaded with no outs. It was Barger’s turn – he stepped in as a pinch‑hitter and launched a towering grand slam that sent the crowd at Rogers Centre into a frenzy.

That swing was only the beginning. Kirk then belted a two‑run homer, and the Dodgers’ relievers – Emmet Sheehan and Anthony Banda – watched nine runs pile up on seven hits, a walk, and zero strikeouts. Banda later admitted, “We try to execute. It’s lights‑out when we’re on our game. Tonight we just … weren’t.”

Key Performances and Pitching Duel

• Blake Snell: 5 IP, 4 R, 84 Pitches, 0‑2 LL (lost the game) – post‑game blamed “lack of fastball command”.
• Kevin Gausman: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 6 K – kept Toronto within striking distance before the surge.
• Trey Yesavage: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 K – solid debut, set the stage for the offensive outburst.
• Addison Barger: 1‑B grand slam – first pinch‑hit slam in World Series history.
• Alejandro Kirk: 2‑run homer – capped the nine‑run rally.

Roberts, who has been at the Dodgers’ helm since 2016, praised the Blue Jays’ firepower while acknowledging his own staff’s vulnerability. “You’ve got to give those guys credit. They certainly fought… Then you get ready for tomorrow against another tough pitcher,” he said on SportsNet LA.

Historical Significance

The six‑run sixth was not just a game‑changing inning; it set a new benchmark. It is the largest single‑inning output in a World Series Game 1 since the 1903‑era format began. According to MLB.com, home teams that win Game 1 in the current 2‑3‑2 structure have taken the series 69 of 102 times – a 67.6 % success rate. Toronto’s early advantage now aligns them with the 1996 Yankees, the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, and the 2017 Houston Astros, all of whom turned a Game 1 home win into a championship.

Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager who faced Snell in the NLCS, recalled his earlier praise: “That was the most dominant performance against us in my ten years.” It adds a bitter twist that the same pitcher who once left batters stunned could not replicate the magic on the biggest stage.

Reactions from Players and Coaches

In the post‑game press conference, Snell was candid. “I didn’t have my fastball where it needed to be. The control was off, and they capitalized,” he said, promising to adjust his mechanics before Game 2.

Meanwhile, Barger’s teammate, shortstop Bo Bichette, hoisted him on his shoulders, shouting, “That’s how we do it in Toronto!” The crowd’s roar registered at a decibel level the stadium’s sensors logged as the loudest of the postseason so far.

Dodgers’ veteran catcher Will Smith expressed frustration but remained optimistic: “We’ve seen worse. We just have to tighten up the bullpen and get the timing right.”

Implications for the Series

Beyond the scoreline, the game reshaped the narrative. The Dodgers entered the postseason as the team with the lowest team ERA (2.68) in the regular season, while the Blue Jays carried the league’s most potent offense (average 5.34 runs per game). The sixth‑inning onslaught proves that raw power can neutralize elite pitching – a lesson that could echo through the remaining games.

Statisticians note that a nine‑run swing in a single inning dramatically lowers a team’s win probability from roughly 55 % to over 85 % according to the latest MLB win‑probability model. Toronto now enjoys that cushion, but the Dodgers still possess a deep rotation, including Cy‑Young contender Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is slated to start Game 2.

Looking Ahead: Game 2 Preview

Game 2 is set for Saturday, Oct 26 2025, at the same venue. The Blue Jays will likely stick with Gausman, while the Dodgers will hand the ball to Yamamoto. Both ace matchups promise a duel of velocity versus movement – Yamamoto’s 99‑mph fastball against Gausman’s heavy sinker.

Analysts at ESPN predict a tighter contest, citing the Dodgers’ bullpen fatigue after the ninth‑run blast. Meanwhile, Toronto’s manager John Schneider hinted at a possible lineup shuffle to keep the pressure on. “We’ve seen what they can do when they’re in a rhythm. Our job is to stay aggressive,” Schneider remarked.

In short, the series has already delivered a storybook opening that will likely influence strategies, betting lines, and fan expectations for the next six potential games.

Key Facts

• Final Score: Toronto Blue Jays 11, Los Angeles Dodgers 4
• Attendance: 49,730 at Rogers Centre
• First‑ever pinch‑hit grand slam in World Series history – Addison Barger
• Largest single‑inning run total in a World Series Game 1 (9 runs)
• Home‑team Game 1 win historically leads to series victory 67.6 % of the time