TORONTO (AP) — Addison Barger launched the first grand slam in World Series history, Alejandro Kirk added a two-run homer in a nine-run sixth inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 in Friday night’s opener.
“That’s the epitome of our offense,” said Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement, who hit a tie-breaking single in the sixth inning. “It’s a team effort and everyone is doing their job.”
Daulton Varsho started Toronto’s comeback from a 2-0 deficit with a two-run home run in the fourth off two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.
“I’ve played him before so many times. He obviously has me under control,” Varsho said. “He’s one of those guys where you have to give it your best shot, and whatever happens, happens.”
The barrage of the long ball was fitting as the Fall Classic returned to Toronto for the first time since 1993, when Joe Carter hit his second homer to end the World Series. And in an unusual connection to that night 32 years ago, Varsho is named after Darren Daulton, the Philadelphia Phillies pitcher who Mitch Williams was throwing to when Carter called.
Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run with the heavily favored Dodgers, seeking to become the first repeat champion since the New York Yankees captured three straight titles from 1998-2000. Los Angeles was trailing by nine points when he drove deep on Braydon Fisher for a two-run shot in the seventh inning, his fourth homer in two games.
Fans angry at Ohtani’s refusal of the Blue Jays to sign a $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023 chanted: “We don’t need you!” When he got to the plate in the ninth.
“Don’t poke the bear,” Toronto player Chris Bassett said.
Game two of the best-of-seven series takes place at Rogers Center on Saturday night.
“They bring him every night,” Clement said, referring to Blue Jays fans. “The last few months, honestly, they’ve been selling out this place and giving us a lot of energy. We’re lucky to have these fans.”
Playing after a one-week layoff after sweeping the National League Championship Series, Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead against 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage on RBI singles by Kiké Hernandez in the second and Will Smith in the third.
Yesavage made his fourth start in the postseason — one more than his career total in the regular season. At 22 years and 88 days, he became the second-youngest player to start the opening game of a World Series behind Brooklyn’s Ralph Branca at 21 years and 267 days in 1947 at Yankee Stadium.
Yesavage made some key throws over his four innings, leaving the bases loaded in the second by retiring Ohtani on a groundout and stranding a runner at third in the next inning when Max Muncy struck out.
Seranthony Domínguez earned the win with 1 1/3 hitless innings.
Varsho’s homer was Snell’s first by a left-handed hitter since Juan Soto joined the Yankees on June 2 of last year. Snell gave up a career-high five hits on the changeup and allowed five runs, eight hits and three walks in five extra innings.
“Blake didn’t have good command of the fastball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There were just a few bad rounds there.”
Snell pitched in the Series for the first time since 2020 with Tampa Bay, when he was removed in the sixth inning of Game 6 while pitching a shutout against the Dodgers. Los Angeles rallied against the Rays for their first championship since 1988.
Now the Dodgers are seeking their third title in six years.
Coming out of a seven-game ALCS series against Seattle that ended Monday, Toronto had 14 hits and key contributions from Bo Bichette and Varsho, who combined with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to become the first trio of former major leaguers to start for one team in a series.
After returning from a sprained left knee that has sidelined him since Sept. 6, Bichette played second base for the first time in six years and favored the knee. He singled in the first, ranged to the left side of the infield to bunt and save the run, then with the score 2-2 he pulled a full count off Snell starting the sixth.
Twelve batters went to the plate in the inning. Clement singled to reliever Emmet Sheehan for a 3-2 lead, pinch-hitter Nathan Lux drew a bases-loaded walk and Andrés Giménez added an RBI single.
Barger greeted left-hander Anthony Banda with a 413-footer to right-center on a hanging slider to put Toronto ahead 9-2.
“Just a blackout moment. Just crazy,” Barger said. “I was choking up a little bit, just trying to get the ball in the air and run.”
Kirk, who singled to the right field wall before Varsho’s homer, added his fourth home run of the postseason.
“We didn’t throw when we needed to keep that game close,” Roberts said. “We need to be better.”
the next
Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman start Saturday night. Yamamoto won Game 2 of the Series last year, allowing one run and one hit over 6 1/3 innings in a 4-2 win over the Yankees and coming off his first complete postseason game in eight years, with three hits against the Milwaukee Brewers. Gausman will make his first appearance in the series.
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