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| Addison Barger hit a grand slam in an 11-4 comback win over the Dodgers to open the 2025 World Series |
After a HUGE 4-run home run from George Springer and some lights out work from Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays opened an unprecedented world series appearance against the defending champion Dodgers. Ty France and Bo Bichette both made the world series roster. Joey Loperfido and Yariel Rodriguez were left off the world series roster. Trey Yesavage got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF, Daulton Varsho was in CF and Myles Straw was in RF. Bichette made his first career big league start at 2B with Ernie Clement at the hot corner, Andres Gimenez at SS and of course Vlad at 1B. The man largely responsible for sending the Blue Jays to the world series for the first time in 32 years, George Springer served as DH. Could the Blue jays open the world series with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Dodgers opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Enrique Hernandez singled scoring Teoscar Hernandez
- The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 3rd as Will Smith singled scoring Mookie Betts
- The Blue jays tied it in the bottom of the 4th as Daulton Varsho hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Alejandro Kirk
- Trey Yesavage pitching line: 4IP 4H 2R (both earned) 3BB 5K 80 pitches (44 for strikes)
- The Blue jays took the lead in the bottom of the 6th as Ernie Clement singled scoring Isiah Kiner-Falefa
- A batter later, Kirk scored on a bases loaded walk to Nathan Lukes
- Two batters later, Addison Barger drilled a grand slam to straightaway center; also scoring George Springer, Andres Gimenez and Lukes
- Two batters later, Kirk belted a 2-run jack to dead center; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Blake Snell pitching line: 5IP 8H 5R (all earned) 3BB 4K 100 (62 for strikes)
- The Dodgers got one back in unge top of the 7th as Shohei Ohtani whacked a 2-run blast to right and into the Dodgers bullpen)
- Final score: Blue Jays 11 Dodgers 4
My Take:
- Trey Yesavage battled through 4 innings giving up a pair of runs on 4 hits while waking 3 and striking out 5. This was the best lineup Yesavage had faced this far and he held this lineup chock full of future hall of famers to a couple of runs to keep the score closer. He'll get another start in LA if the series isn't a sweep.
- The bullpen held the Dodgers to a meaningless 2-run HR by arguably the best player on the planet, Shohei Ohtani. Mason Fluharty and Seranthony Dominguez, who was credited with the win, retired every batter they faced
- Offensively, Addison Barger (grand slam), Alejandro Kirk (3 runs scored, including 2-run HR), and Daulton Varsho (2 runs scored, including 2-run HR) led the way.
- Every Blue Jays starter except Davis Schneider and Myles Straw had a hit
- The Blue Jays were 3-5 with runners in scoring posittion
- It was the Blue Jays 4th comeback win of the postseason
- Very nice choice to have Cito Gaston, the manager of the only 2 wotld series titles throw out the first pitch to the team's current manager, Cito Gaston. The game has changed drasticlly since Gaston was managing the team. Instant replay and the ability to challenge calls, as well as the pitch clock didn't exist in either 1992 or 1993
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to take a commanding 2-0 series lead (and extend the win streak to 4 games). Kevin Gausman starts against Dodgers righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
