Addison Barger made history as the first pinch-hitter to hit a grand slam in World Series history, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to an impressive 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of the series. It was a thrilling night at Rogers Centre, marking the first World Series game in Canada since 1993.
The Dodgers started strong, with Enrique Hernandez and Will Smith driving in runs early on. However, the tide turned in the bottom of the fourth when Toronto’s Daulton Varsho hit a two-run homer, leveling the score.
The real drama unfolded in the sixth inning. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell left the game after hitting Varsho, loading the bases. The Blue Jays seized their chance. They took the lead with a single from Ernie Clement, and things snowballed from there. A walk from reliever Emmet Sheehan brought in another run, before Barger cleared the bases with his grand slam. Alejandro Kirk followed up with a two-run homer, bringing the score to 11-2.
Although Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese superstar, hit a two-run homer in the seventh, it wasn’t enough to change the game for the Dodgers. Interestingly, Ohtani was a target for the Blue Jays before he joined the Dodgers, leading to fans chanting “We don’t need him!” as he stepped to the plate in the ninth inning.
Recent statistics show that pinch-hitter home runs are rare in the World Series, highlighting the significance of Barger’s feat. According to MLB data, only a handful of pinch-hit homers have ever been recorded in these games.
Looking to the future, the series now moves to Los Angeles for Game Two. The Blue Jays will aim to build on their momentum, while the Dodgers will seek redemption after this tough loss. The upcoming games promise even more excitement as the teams battle for the championship.
For more on this exhilarating matchup and its implications, you can check out the MLB article here.
