TORONTO (AP) — Addison Barger launched the primary pinch-hit grand slam in World Collection historical past, Alejandro Kirk added a two-run homer in a nine-run sixth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays overwhelmed the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 within the opener Friday evening.
“That’s the epitome of our offense,” stated Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement, who laced a tiebreaking single within the sixth. “It’s a collective effort and everybody just doing their job.”
Daulton Varsho began Toronto’s comeback from a 2-0 deficit with a two-run drive within the fourth off two-time Cy Younger Award winner Blake Snell.
“I’ve faced him before plenty of times. He’s obviously dominated me,” Varsho stated. “It’s one of those guys where you’ve got to get your best swing off and whatever happens, happens.”
The longball barrage was becoming because the Fall Traditional returned to Toronto for the primary time since 1993, when Joe Carter hit the second walk-off homer to finish a World Collection. And in an uncommon tie to that evening 32 years in the past, Varsho is called after Darren Daulton, the Philadelphia Phillies catcher Mitch Williams was throwing to when Carter related.
Shohei Ohtani hit his first Collection dwelling run for the closely favored Dodgers, searching for to develop into the primary repeat champion for the reason that New York Yankees took three titles in a row from 1998-2000. Los Angeles was trailing by 9 when he went deep off Braydon Fisher for a two-run shot within the seventh, his fourth homer in two video games.
Followers offended Ohtani spurned the Blue Jays to signal a $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023 chanted: “We don’t need you!” when he got here to the plate within the ninth.
“They bring it every night,” Clement stated. “The last few months, honestly, they’ve been selling this place out and giving us a ton of energy. We’re lucky to have these fans.”
Sport 2 within the best-of-seven collection is at Rogers Centre on Saturday evening.
Enjoying after a one-week layoff following its Nationwide League Championship Collection sweep, Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead in opposition to 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage on RBI singles by Kiké Hernández within the second and Will Smith within the third.
Yesavage made his fourth postseason begin — another than his regular-season profession whole. At 22 years, 88 days outdated he grew to become the second-youngest pitcher to begin a World Collection opener behind Brooklyn’s Ralph Branca at 21 years, 267 days in 1947 at Yankee Stadium.
Yesavage made some key pitches throughout his 4 innings, leaving the bases loaded within the second by retiring Ohtani on a groundout and stranding a runner at third the subsequent inning when he struck out Max Muncy.
Seranthony Domínguez bought the win with 1 1/3 hitless innings.
Varsho’s homer was the primary off Snell by a left-handed hitter since Juan Soto related for the Yankees on June 2 final 12 months. Snell gave up a career-high 5 hits on changeups and allowed 5 runs, eight hits and three walks in five-plus innings.
“Blake just didn’t have good fastball command,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “There were just a couple bad walks in there.”
Snell pitched within the Collection for the primary time since 2020 with Tampa Bay, when he was eliminated within the sixth inning of Sport 6 whereas pitching a shutout in opposition to the Dodgers. Los Angeles rallied in opposition to the Rays’ bullpen for its first championship since 1988.
Now the Dodgers are chasing their third title in six years.
Coming off a seven-game ALCS in opposition to Seattle that ended Monday, Toronto bought 14 hits and key contributions from Bo Bichette and Varsho, who mixed with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to develop into the primary trio of sons of former main leaguers to begin for one crew in a Collection recreation.
Coming back from a sprained left knee that had sidelined him since Sept. 6, Bichette performed second base for the primary time in six years and favored the knee. He singled within the first, ranged to the left aspect of the infield to area a grounder and save a run, then with the rating 2-2 drew a full-count stroll from Snell beginning the sixth.
Twelve batters went to the plate within the inning. Clement singled off reliever Emmet Sheehan for a 3-2 lead, pinch-hitter Nathan Lukes drew a bases-loaded stroll and Andrés Giménez added an RBI single.
Barger greeted left-hander Anthony Banda with a 413-foot drive to right-center on a dangling slider to place Toronto forward 9-2.
“Just a blackout moment. Just crazy,” Barger stated. “I was choking up a little bit, just trying to put the ball in the air and get a run in.”
Kirk, who singled off the right-field wall a pitch earlier than Varsho’s homer, added his fourth dwelling run of the postseason.
“We just didn’t make pitches when we need to to keep that game close,” Roberts stated. “We need to be better.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman begin Saturday evening. Yamamoto gained Sport 2 of the Collection final 12 months, permitting one run and one hit over 6 1/3 innings in a 4-2 victory over the Yankees and is coming off the first postseason full recreation in eight years, a three-hitter in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers. Gausman will probably be making his Collection debut.
