The Toronto Blue Jays made a stunning statement in the first game of the 2025 World Series, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 at a packed Rogers Centre in Toronto. The highlight of the game came from Addison Barger, who smashed the first-ever pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, propelling the Blue Jays to a commanding victory.

Historic Moment for Addison Barger

Barger, who made his MLB debut in 2024 and spent the start of 2025 in the minor leagues, etched his name into World Series history with a clutch grand slam in the sixth inning. The 11-4 victory marked a dominant performance from Toronto, who scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take control of the ‘Fall Classic’.

“It was incredible to be part of this moment. The crowd’s energy was unreal,” Barger said after the game.

Game Recap: Blue Jays Rally in Sixth

The Dodgers initially took the lead with RBI hits from Enrique Hernandez and Will Smith, putting them 2-0 up by the third inning. However, Toronto’s Daulton Varsho tied the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth.

The sixth inning saw the Blue Jays turn the game into a blowout. Blake Snell, Dodgers’ starting pitcher, hit Varsho with a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Ernie Clement followed with a single, Sheehan walked in a run, and Andres Gimenez hit a line drive to make it 5-2.

Then came Barger’s historic grand slam, followed by a two-run homer from Alejandro Kirk, extending the lead to 11-2 and effectively ending the contest for the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the seventh, but it was too little, too late for the National League champions.

Crowd and Atmosphere

The game was the first World Series opener in Canada since 1993, and the crowd’s energy was electric. Fans even chanted “We don’t need him!” at Ohtani, reflecting Toronto’s historic attempt to sign the Japanese superstar before he moved to Los Angeles.

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, who led the team to back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, adding a nostalgic touch to the historic night.

World Series Schedule

The best-of-seven series continues with:

• Game 2 (Toronto): Saturday, 25 October
• Game 3 (Los Angeles): Monday, 27 October
• Game 4 (Los Angeles): Tuesday, 28 October
• Game 5 (Los Angeles):* Wednesday, 29 October
• Game 6 (Toronto):* Friday, 31 October
• Game 7 (Toronto):* Saturday, 1 November

If required. Games start at 20:00 Eastern Time (early morning UK time).

Toronto’s emphatic victory in Game 1 sets the tone for the series and highlights the Blue Jays’ home-field advantage as they aim to capture the MLB World Series 2025 title.