The Rogers Centre was literally shaking. It's been 32 years since Toronto saw a World Series game on home soil, and they didn't just show up; they demolished the script.
If you're looking for the quick answer, the Toronto Blue Jays won Game 1 of the 2025 World Series, crushing the Los Angeles Dodgers 11–4. But the final score doesn't even begin to cover the insanity of that sixth inning. Honestly, it was one of those "where were you" moments for baseball fans.
The Sixth Inning That Changed Everything
For the first five innings, it looked like a classic pitcher’s duel. Blake Snell was doing Blake Snell things, and the Dodgers had a quiet 2–0 lead thanks to some early production from Kiké Hernández and Will Smith. Then, the wheels didn't just come off for LA—they disintegrated.
Toronto hung nine runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Nine.
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That is the highest-scoring inning in the Fall Classic since 1968. It started with a walk to Bo Bichette, who was playing his first game in nearly two months after a brutal knee injury. Then the hits started coming. Alejandro Kirk singled, Daulton Varsho got hit by a pitch, and suddenly the bases were loaded with zero outs.
The turning point? Addison Barger.
Coming off the bench to pinch-hit for Davis Schneider, Barger did something no one in the history of this sport had ever done before. He launched a pinch-hit grand slam in a World Series game. The ball traveled 413 feet into the night, and the noise in Toronto was deafening. By the time the dust settled, the Blue Jays had turned a tense deficit into a 9–2 blowout.
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Key Players Who Won Game 1 of World Series
While Barger got the headlines, the win was a total team effort. You’ve got to give credit to the kid, Trey Yesavage. At just 22 years old, he became the second-youngest pitcher ever to start a World Series opener. He didn't get the win—that went to Seranthony Domínguez—but he kept the Dodgers' high-powered offense at bay for four gutsy innings.
- Alejandro Kirk: He was a monster at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a two-run homer later in the game to put the "double digits" exclamation point on the scoreboard.
- Daulton Varsho: His two-run blast in the fourth inning actually tied the game initially, proving Snell was human after all.
- Bo Bichette: His return was the emotional spark the Jays needed. Seeing him back at second base and drawing that lead-off walk in the sixth was the catalyst for the whole explosion.
On the flip side, Shohei Ohtani did what he does. He hit a two-run homer in the seventh, but it was basically a footnote. The Blue Jays fans, still a bit salty about his $700 million decision to sign with LA instead of Toronto, made sure he heard it with chants of "We don't need you!" echoing through the dome.
Why This Win Was Historic
It wasn't just about one game. For Toronto, this was about ending a three-decade drought of World Series appearances. The 11–4 victory wasn't just a win; it was a statement that the "gray-haired" rotation and the young core of the Blue Jays were ready for the biggest stage.
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Statistically, the game was an anomaly. The Dodgers' bullpen, usually a fortress, was picked apart. Dave Roberts tried to bridge the gap with Emmet Sheehan and Anthony Banda, but the Blue Jays' contact-heavy approach wore them down. They didn't strike out once during that nine-run rally. That's almost impossible in modern baseball.
What to Watch for Moving Forward
Even though Toronto took the lead, we now know how this story ended—with the Dodgers eventually storming back to win the title in seven games. But Game 1 remains the highlight for the North. It showed that the "swing and miss" pitching LA relies on can be neutralized by a team that simply refuses to strike out.
If you’re analyzing the 2025 postseason for your own team’s strategy, look at the Toronto approach in Game 1. They didn't chase. They forced Snell to work. They waited for the bullpen to blink.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Replay: If you missed the sixth inning, find the highlight of Barger's slam. It's a technical masterclass in hitting a breaking ball.
- Check the Stats: Look at the "Contact Rate" from Game 1. The Blue Jays’ ability to put the ball in play against high-velocity arms is the new blueprint for beating elite rotations.
- Monitor the 2026 Rosters: With the 2026 season approaching, see how many teams are moving away from "all-or-nothing" power hitters in favor of the high-contact style Toronto used to dismantle the Dodgers in this opener.