In a historic and electrifying start to the 2024 World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays delivered a stunning performance to defeat the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers 11–4 in Game 1 on Friday night at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays, playing their first Fall Classic in 32 years, staged a remarkable comeback that captivated a sold-out home crowd and set the tone for the best-of-seven championship series.
The highlight of the evening came from Addison Barger, who etched his name into World Series lore by hitting the first-ever pinch-hit grand slam in the history of the Fall Classic. Barger’s powerful 413-foot blast to center field capped a furious nine-run rally for Toronto in the sixth inning, transforming a 2–0 deficit into a commanding 11–4 lead. Alongside Barger’s historic home run, catcher Alejandro Kirk also contributed a two-run homer, adding to the Blue Jays’ offensive onslaught and igniting the crowd with his fourth homer of the postseason.
The game began with the Dodgers taking an early lead thanks to RBI singles from Enrique Hernández and Will Smith off the young Toronto rookie pitcher, Trey Yesavage. At just 22 years old and making only his fourth postseason start, Yesavage became the second-youngest pitcher ever to start a World Series opener. Despite some early nerves, he managed to limit the Dodgers’ damage, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second inning and stranding another runner in the third.
Toronto’s resurgence started in the fourth inning when Kirk singled sharply off the right-field wall. This was quickly followed by Daulton Varsho’s impressive 423-foot home run to center field off Dodgers’ pitcher Blake Snell. Notably, Snell had not allowed a home run to a left-handed batter in nearly five months, making Varsho’s homer an unexpected and crucial turning point.
The pivotal sixth inning saw the Dodgers’ bullpen unravel as they failed to contain the Blue Jays’ relentless offense. Snell began the inning by walking Bo Bichette, who was playing his first game in seven weeks after recovering from a knee injury. Kirk followed with another single, and Varsho was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Toronto capitalized immediately; Ernie Clement delivered an RBI single, and Nathan Lukes drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Blue Jays ahead for the first time in the game.
Andrés Giménez extended the lead further with an RBI single to right field, prompting Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to make a pitching change. After reliever Emmet Sheehan failed to record an out, Roberts brought in Anthony Banda. It was Banda who bore the brunt of Barger’s historic grand slam, as the pinch-hitter crushed a hanging slider deep into the night sky, sending the crowd into a frenzy and putting the Blue Jays firmly in control. Moments later, Kirk added his own two-run homer, completing the grand slam inning and electrifying the Rogers Centre crowd.
Shohei Ohtani, the star two-way player for the Dodgers who had drawn boos throughout the night for rejecting a massive $700 million offer from Toronto last December, provided a brief glimmer of hope for Los Angeles. Ohtani homered with a two-run shot off Toronto reliever Braydon Fisher in the seventh inning. However, the Dodgers were already trailing by seven runs, and as Ohtani came to bat in the ninth inning, chants of “We don’t need you!” echoed throughout the dome, underscoring the tension and frustration within the home crowd.
Pitching-wise, Blake Snell struggled as he was tagged for five runs and eight hits in just over five innings. In contrast, Seranthony Domínguez earned the win by pitching one and one-third hitless innings in relief, while rookie Trey Yesavage struck out five batters over his four innings of gutsy work. The Blue Jays amassed a total of 14 hits, with Kirk leading the charge with three, and Bichette contributing two hits while returning to second base for the first time since 2019.
The Dodgers, despite boasting the highest payroll in baseball and coming off a sweep in the National League Championship Series, appeared rusty after a weeklong layoff. Their early struggles exposed vulnerabilities that the Blue Jays exploited fully, raising questions about Los Angeles’ ability to maintain their championship form as they pursue a third World Series title in six years.
Looking ahead, Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Saturday night at