2025 World Series Game 1: Analysis from Blue Jays' win over Dodgers - ESPN

What a start to the 2025 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays came out swinging in Game 1, riding a nine-run sixth inning to an 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of a roaring crowd at Rogers Centre — the first World Series game in Toronto since 1993.

It was the highest-scoring inning in Jays postseason history — and featured the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, thanks to Addison Barger.

We have you covered with all the action from the first game of the Fall Classic in Toronto, from in-game analysis to takeaways after the final pitch.

Key links: Mega-preview, predictions | Schedule

Toronto leads series 1-0

It was over when ...: Addison Barger stepped into the on-deck circle to hit for Davis Schneider in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Blue Jays had already scored three runs to snap a 2-2 tie. Then came the iconic moment of an all-time inning: Barger hammered an Anthony Banda slider out to center field, the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. Toronto would add another pair of runs for nine total, the third-most runs in any World Series inning and the most since 1968. Rogers Centre shook — and the Dodgers, prohibitive favorites entering the series, are shaken. — Jeff Passan

Game 1 star: Barger gets all the glory, but Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk had a great World Series opener of his own. He worked a nine-pitch walk in the first inning, laced a single on the eighth pitch his second time up, punched a single to right during the fateful sixth and came up again that inning and launched a two-run homer. Beyond his offensive bona fides, Kirk called a tremendous game that kept the Dodgers' offense off-balance all night. — Passan

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