UPDATE: The Toronto Blue Jays stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers with an explosive 11-4 victory in Game 1 of the World Series on November 3, 2023, showcasing an unprecedented nine-run sixth inning that left fans in awe.
This historic inning featured the first-ever pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history by Addison Barger, propelling the Blue Jays from a 2-0 deficit to a commanding lead. The offensive explosion came during a pivotal sixth inning when twelve batters stepped to the plate, highlighting Toronto’s relentless momentum.
In a remarkable display, Alejandro Kirk also contributed with a two-run homer, marking his fourth home run of the postseason. Barger reflected on the monumental moment, stating, “It was just a blackout moment. It’s just crazy,” after the game. His grand slam, launched off Anthony Banda, soared a staggering 413 feet into right-center field.
“To be honest, it was so hard to remember, just to gather my thoughts and everything,” Barger told Fox Sports. “It was just a blackout moment. It’s just crazy.”
The nine runs scored in that inning rank as the third-most in a single inning in World Series history. This significant event took place at Rogers Centre, marking the first World Series game held in Toronto since 1993.
Earlier in the game, the Dodgers had taken a brief lead with a combination of runs from Enrique Hernández and Will Smith, both contributing RBI singles. However, the Blue Jays quickly shifted the momentum, with Daulton Varsho igniting the comeback with a two-run homer off two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in the fourth inning.
The Dodgers, favorites to win, were left reeling, especially as they sought to become the first team to repeat as champions since the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000. Notably, Shohei Ohtani hit his first Series home run, but it came during a moment of frustration as the team trailed by nine runs.
With the victory, the Blue Jays not only celebrated a historic win but also continued a trend where teams scoring at least eight runs in a World Series inning historically claim the championship; the previous four teams that did so ended up winning the series.
The stage is set for Game 2 on Saturday night, where the Blue Jays will aim to maintain their momentum against Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while the Blue Jays counter with Kevin Gausman. As both teams prepare, the stakes are high, with the Game 1 winner having triumphed in six of the last seven World Series.
“That’s the guy we want on the bump,” said Ernie Clement regarding Gausman. “We just got to keep rolling.”
With excitement building, fans worldwide are poised for what promises to be a thrilling continuation of this championship series. Stay tuned for updates as this gripping showdown unfolds!