TORONTO — One big inning and one huge blast got the Toronto Blue Jays off to a stellar start in the World Series.
Now the Blue Jays will try to convert the momentum into a comfortable series lead when they face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 on Saturday.
The Blue Jays erupted for nine runs in the sixth inning to take the opener 11-4 on Friday.
The huge rally included Addison Barger hitting the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history.
The only bigger innings in World Series play were a 10-run seventh inning for the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics in Game 4 against the Chicago Cubs and a 10-run third inning for the 1968 Detroit Tigers in Game 6 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“Those were some pretty terrific at-bats from everyone up and down the order,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
Alejandro Kirk, who finished 3-for-3 with a walk, and Daulton Varsho each hit a two-run homer for Toronto. Shohei Ohtani socked a two-run shot for Los Angeles.
The Blue Jays tabbed right-hander Kevin Gausman (2-1, 2.00 ERA postseason) to start Game 2. He is 2-3 with a 3.57 ERA in nine career regular-season games (eight starts) against the Dodgers. In three postseason starts vs. Los Angeles, Gausman is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 1.83 ERA) will get the ball for the Dodgers. He has not faced the Blue Jays, but he has observed them.
“First off, the impression of them for me is that they can keep the lineup moving, and then they can hit home runs when it’s needed,” Yamamoto said. “So, I’m thinking the key for me is just to keep the fundamental pitching and not to care that much about runners.”
Gausman started Game 1 in each of Toronto’s first two playoff series this year. He also started Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners and then pitched an inning of relief in Game 7, earning the win. As a result, the Blue Jays decided to use Trey Yesavage in Game 1 and bump Gausman to Game 2.
“I wouldn’t say it was a slam dunk, but I’m better the more days you give me, so I think that had something to do with it,” Gausman said. “I think also it’s about kind of keeping (Yesavage) locked in, not trying to mess with his routine too much. … I think maybe if I would have … thrown maybe less pitches, and maybe not such a high-leverage position in Game 7, then maybe it would have been a different conversation.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pointed out areas where his team needs to improve.
“You look back at the last couple of weeks, there’s some pivotal at-bats that can flip games,” Roberts said. “I think that we can be better at that. At times, I think that the offense looks great as far as building innings, but there’s some key at-bats that you’ve got to win pitches and use the other side of the field, get a hit, take a walk, whatever it might be. …
“We can be better, we need to be better. Gausman, these guys are fired up. They’re playing good baseball.”
Toronto’s Bo Bichette returned to the lineup in Game 1 for the first time since Sept. 6, when he sprained his left knee sliding into home. Usually a shortstop, he played second base on Friday for the first time as a major-leaguer and went 1-for-2 with a walk before leaving for a pinch runner in the sixth.
“I’m really excited for Bo,” Gausman said. “Obviously, he’s been a huge part of this organization for a long time, so if he wasn’t out there, I would be heartbroken for him.”
–Larry Millson, Field Level Media
