TORONTO — Addison Barger hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history Friday night, propelling the Toronto Blue Jays to an 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1.
Barger’s slam came in a nine-run sixth inning that was capped by a two-run homer from Alejandro Kirk.
Daulton Varsho also contributed a two-run homer and Kirk went 3-for-3 for the Blue Jays, who played in their first World Series game since 1993.
Shohei Ohtani clubbed a two-run homer for the Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Saturday in Toronto.
Bo Bichette, back playing for the Blue Jays after a seven-week injury absence, walked to open the sixth inning against Blake Snell (3-1).
Pinch runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa took second on Kirk’s single to right. Varsho was hit by a 3-2 pitch to load the bases, and Emmet Sheehan replaced Snell. Ernie Clement hit a go-ahead single to left-center, bringing in Kiner-Falefa.
Pinch hitter Nathan Lukes walked, forcing in a run, and Andres Gimenez grounded an RBI single to right. After a forceout at home on George Springer’s grounder, Anthony Banda replaced Sheehan.
Barger batted for Davis Schneider and hit his third homer of the postseason to center, giving Toronto a 9-2 lead. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled, and one out later, Kirk hit his fourth postseason homer.
Snell allowed five runs, eight hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings.
Toronto reliever Seranthony Dominguez (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 clean innings to earn the win.
The Dodgers had grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning against Trey Yesavage on a walk and singles by Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez.
Los Angeles doubled the advantage in the third on two walks and Will Smith’s RBI single to right.
Yesavage permitted two runs, four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in four innings.
Toronto tied it on Varsho’s third postseason homer, a fourth-inning blast to center on Snell’s first-pitch fastball. It followed Kirk’s single off the wall in the right field corner.
Ohtani hit his sixth homer of the postseason against Braydon Fisher in the seventh following a walk by Tommy Edman.
–Larry Millson, Field Level Media
