It was an evening stuffed with promise, custom and record-breaking drama at Rogers Centre and the Blue Jays introduced their return to baseball’s massive stage in emphatic vogue, toppling the Dodgers 11–4 in Sport 1 of the 2025 World Collection.
The Dodgers jumped forward early. Rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage, who had been dominant within the ALCS, arrived with hype, however in contrast to his earlier appearances, issues didn’t click on. He surrendered an RBI single to Kike Hernández within the second inning after which allowed a Will Smith RBI single within the third, placing Los Angeles in entrance 2-0. Yesavage would exit after 4 innings, permitting two runs on 4 hits, strolling three and putting out 5.
Toronto answered within the fourth. With two outs, Daulton Varsho launched a two-run homer to middle, leveling the sport at 2–2 and saying the Jays’ intent.
The turning level got here within the sixth inning, a second followers had been ready many years for. The Blue Jays erupted for 9 runs, he largest inning of the evening and arguably essentially the most lopsided body in current Fall Traditional historical past. It started with Bo Bichette strolling, adopted by a single from Alejandro Kirk and a hit-by-pitch to Varsho that loaded the bases. Ernie Clement adopted with an RBI single, Nathan Lukes added a run on a bases-loaded stroll, and Andrés Giménez made it 5–2 with one other RBI single. Then got here the second for the historical past books: pinch-hitter Addison Barger crushed a grand slam off Anthony Banda; the primary pinch-hit grand slam in World Collection historical past. Kirk capped the inning with a two-run homer of his personal. Instantly, it was 11–2.
The Dodgers confirmed flashes of struggle. Within the prime of the seventh, celebrity Shohei Ohtani pulled a two-run homer, his fourth of the postseason, to make it 11–4, however by then the end result had lengthy been determined.
Blake Snell, pegged as a Sport 1 ace, by no means discovered his stride. He was pulled early within the sixth after surrendering eight hits and 5 runs, as Toronto’s offense hammered the usually-strong Dodgers pitching employees.
It wasn’t only one swing or one inning that did the harm. Iit was the right storm of timing, execution and momentum for Toronto. They completed with 14 hits, together with three from Kirk. The eruption in that sixth inning despatched an announcement: the Blue Jays are again within the World Collection and so they’re taking part in with swagger.
From a story standpoint, this win carries hefty weight. It’s the franchise’s first World Collection sport in 32 years, and in toppling the defending champs, Toronto flipped the script. Sport 1 wins in seven-game collection have traditionally given groups the higher hand in additional than two-thirds of situations.
For the Dodgers, it is a second of reflection. A crew constructed on dominance seemed rattled. They nonetheless have their expertise, their historical past and their ring pedigree, however after tonight, the noise and strain have shifted. The Blue Jays didn’t simply win a sport; they awoke the underdog story and confirmed the baseball world they got here to compete.
Subsequent up: Sport 2, as soon as once more at Rogers Centre, and the Blue Jays carry not simply the lead however the momentum. For the Dodgers, it’s time to regroup as a result of now the highway to a repeat runs by means of the guts of Toronto.
