Toronto

Addison Barger Sparks Toronto Blue Jays’ Historic 9-Run Sixth Inning To Capture Game One Of World Series

Don Watz

It was electric. It was a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, and screaming moment. It was enough to bring the Toronto Blue Jays fans to tears. And, it was just one inning!

If they win the 2025 World Series, Blue Jays fans will look at the sixth inning of Game One on Friday night, highlighted by a grand slam home run by Toronto pinch-hitter Addison Barger, as the most historic inning in franchise history.  They scored nine runs. They batted around. They used the inning as a catalyst to win 11-4 over the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

 

Details of Toronto’s Historic Sixth Inning 

The score was tied 2-2 at the start of the bottom of the sixth inning. The following recaps the historic inning: 

Toronto 3 – Los Angeles 2:  Ernie Clement singled to center, scoring Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who came in as a pinch-runner 

Toronto 4 – Los Angeles 2: Nathan Lukes walked, Alejandro Kirk scored, Clement to second, Daulton Varsho to third

Toronto 5 – Los Angeles 2: Andres Gimenez singled to right, Varsho scored, Lukes to second, Clement to third

Toronto 9 – Los Angeles 2: Pinch Hitter Addison Barger hit a historic 413-foot grand slam home run to center field, bringing home Lukes, Giménez, and Springer. 

Toronto 11 – Los Angeles 2: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled, and then Kirk homered to left center field   

Barger’s blast was the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. This was the third-highest-scoring inning in World Series history, just behind 10-run innings from the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics and 1968 Detroit Tigers.  

What Went Wrong for the Dodgers?

Coming into the World Series, many experts felt that the key was to get to the Dodger bullpen. If you get past the starters, you have a chance to win. The Blue Jays were able to get to Dodgers starter Blake Snell. 

It started in the bottom of the fourth when Kirk led with a single and Daulton Varsho followed with a two-run home run to straightaway center field to tie the score 2-2. It was the first home run Snell had given up to a left-handed hitter this season.  In the sixth inning, Snell left the game with the score 2-2 and the bases loaded. Of course, that brought in pinch hitter Barger, who made history with the grand slam home run off reliever Emmet Sheehan. 

The pitching line for Snell ended with eight hits, three walks, and five earned runs. 

What went right for the Dodgers? Shohei Ohtani hit his first World Series home run in the seventh inning. By then, the Blue Jays had their historic record, the fans were in tears, and there was no glory to the hit for Ohtani.

After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “I think that we can be better; we need to be better. We just got to continue to take good at-bats and play good baseball and then we’ll be fine.”

Game Two: Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Kevin Gausman

Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto now stands between a 0-2 start to the series. In his last game against the Brewers, he threw a complete game. That was back on October 14, as he will be pitching on 11 days’ rest. The argument can be made that the time off cost Snell his rhythm. The Dodgers hope this does not happen to Yamamoto. 

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, will hand the ball to ace Kevin Gausman. He did not pitch Game One as he was still resting from a Game 7 relief appearance in the ALCS against Seattle. With an ERA of just 2.00 for 18 innings, Toronto fans have to feel they have the right man on the mound. 

Game Two is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

 

 

 

 

Don recently returned to writing after a hiatus. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including the USA Today, Tallahassee Democrat, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Detroit Free Press, and Arizona Republic.

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