Blue Jays batter Dodgers with nine-run sixth inning to take World Series opener

Addison Barger launched the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history and Alejandro Kirk added a two-run shot as the Toronto Blue Jays erupted for nine runs in the sixth inning to rout the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 in Game 1 on Friday night.
Playing in their first Fall Classic since 1993, the Blue Jays trailed 2-0 before Daulton Varsho tied it with a two-run homer off two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in the fourth. Barger’s 413-foot blast to center capped a stunning rally that turned the opener into a celebration inside Rogers Centre.

Schedule

Best-of-seven series. All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4).

Fri 24 Oct Game 1: Toronto Blue Jays 11, LA Dodgers 4
Sat 25 Oct Game 2: LA Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays, 8pm
Mon 27 Oct Game 3: Toronto Blue Jays at LA Dodgers, 8pm
Tue 28 Oct Game 4: Toronto Blue Jays at LA Dodgers, 8pm
Wed 29 Oct Game 5: Toronto Blue Jays at LA Dodgers, 8pm*
Fri 31 Oct Game 6: LA Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays, 8pm*
Sat 1 Nov Game 7: LA Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays, 8pm*

*if necessary

How to watch

• In the US, all games will be broadcast on FOX. If you have a cable/satellite subscription with FOX included, you can also stream via the FOX Sports app.

• In the UK, the official broadcaster is TNT Sports. A subscription to their service or their app is required.

• In Australia, the rightsholder is the local branch of ESPN Australia and related platforms.

Kirk went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and his sixth-inning homer chased reliever Anthony Banda. Bo Bichette, back from a seven-week injury absence, drew a walk that ignited the outburst, and Toronto’s bullpen combined for five solid innings after rookie Trey Yesavage’s four-inning start.
Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the seventh for Los Angeles – his first in a World Series – drawing boos and chants of “We don’t need you!” from fans still bitter he chose the Dodgers over the Blue Jays in free agency two winters ago.
Snell was charged with five runs and eight hits in five-plus innings, while Toronto’s Seranthony Domínguez earned the win with one and one-third scoreless frames of relief.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday night in Toronto, where the Blue Jays will look to move halfway toward their first championship in 32 years.