Blue Jays Erupt in Sixth-Inning Barrage to Stun Dodgers 11–4 in World Series Game One

TORONTO — What began as a tense, evenly matched opening night of the World Series quickly transformed into an offensive explosion that sent the Rogers Centre into a frenzy. The Toronto Blue Jays, who looked to be in for a long, grinding contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers, unleashed a thunderous display of power that turned a close 2–2 game into a stunning 11–4 rout. By the end of the sixth inning, Toronto had all but secured the first game of the 2025 World Series in front of a sold-out crowd that will be talking about this night for decades.

For the first five innings, it was everything fans expected from a clash of two powerhouse teams. Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow was sharp early, working the corners and keeping Toronto’s sluggers guessing. Los Angeles drew first blood in the second inning when Will Smith lined an RBI single to left field, scoring Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers added another run in the third after a misplayed grounder at short allowed Mookie Betts to score from second. Up 2–0, Los Angeles seemed in control — until Toronto began to chip away.

In the bottom of the fourth, Daulton Varsho stepped to the plate with a man on and launched a towering drive into the second deck, a no-doubt two-run shot that tied the game and reignited the stadium. The noise inside the Rogers Centre was deafening, the type of roar that made it feel like 1993 again. For the first time in the night, the Dodgers appeared rattled. Toronto sensed blood in the water but had no idea what was about to happen next.

The sixth inning will go down as one of the greatest single-inning performances in World Series history. Bo Bichette opened the frame with a sharp single up the middle, followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. working a walk to set the table. Then came a bloop hit by Alejandro Kirk to load the bases. The Dodgers pulled Glasnow for lefty reliever Alex Vesia, hoping to stop the bleeding before it began. But the opposite happened. Matt Chapman worked a full count and drew a bases-loaded walk to give Toronto its first lead of the night. Then, rookie sensation Addison Barger stepped to the plate, fouled off two tough pitches, and crushed a grand slam deep into the right-field stands. The sound off his bat was pure thunder. The crowd erupted, waving towels, hugging strangers, screaming until their voices cracked. It was the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, and it broke the game wide open.

But Toronto wasn’t done. The next batter, Alejandro Kirk, followed up with a two-run blast of his own, and Varsho later doubled in another run to make it 11–2 before the inning finally ended. In a blink, a tie game had become a blowout, and the Dodgers were left shell-shocked. The usually steady Los Angeles bullpen imploded, unable to find the strike zone or halt the momentum. The Blue Jays sent eleven men to the plate in the inning, tallying nine runs on seven hits. The eruption was a masterclass in patience, power, and precision hitting.

The Dodgers tried to respond in the seventh when Shohei Ohtani launched a towering solo shot to center field — a majestic reminder of his talent — but by then, the damage was irreversible. Toronto’s pitching staff, anchored by José Berríos, was masterful when it mattered most. Berríos settled in after the third, retiring ten straight at one point and striking out seven over six strong innings. He exited to a standing ovation, pounding his chest as the crowd chanted his name. The bullpen closed it out with minimal drama, keeping Los Angeles to just two late runs on scattered hits.

When the final out was recorded, Toronto players poured onto the field as fans waved Canadian flags and sang along to “O Canada.” It was a night that felt symbolic — a statement that the Blue Jays are not just contenders, but champions in waiting. After years of heartbreak, rebuilds, and near-misses, the team has matured into a complete powerhouse, mixing young stars like Bichette, Guerrero Jr., and Barger with veteran leadership from Springer and Chapman. The chemistry was evident in every high-five, every mound visit, every roar from the dugout.

Manager John Schneider called it “one of those innings that define a series.” He wasn’t exaggerating. The Jays’ nine-run explosion not only set a franchise postseason record but also gave Toronto an unmistakable psychological edge heading into Game Two. Los Angeles, meanwhile, will have to regroup quickly. Clayton Kershaw is expected to take the mound in Game Two, hoping to steady a Dodgers team that suddenly looks vulnerable.

For Blue Jays fans, this was more than just a win — it was catharsis. Decades of waiting for another World Series appearance, of watching powerhouse American teams dominate October, of dreaming about this moment, all poured out in a single unforgettable inning. From the first pitch to the final out, the Rogers Centre pulsed like the beating heart of a nation rediscovering its baseball soul.

The last time Toronto was here, Joe Carter’s home run sealed history. On this night, it was Addison Barger who wrote the next chapter — with a swing that might just echo all the way to a championship.