The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in a knock-out win last night with a final score of 11-4.
The Jays are off to a strong start after winning the World Series opener last night.
Their starting pitcher and 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage struck out Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani on a splitter.
“It’s my goal to go out there and strike out everybody I face,” Yesavage told the media after the victory. “Being able to start off the game on a hot note was definitely a boost in my confidence.”
The game-defining play was the pinch-hit grand slam by the Jays’ outfielder Addison Barger in the sixth inning (pinch hitters are batters substituted in, often at critical times of the game). Leading 5-2 in the top of the sixth, Barger stepped in for David Schneider. With all three bases loaded, Barger launched the fourth pitch by the Dodgers’ Anthony Banda over the centre field wall – making World Series history with its first-ever pinch-hit grand slam.
“I was just trying to put the bomb play, get a run home hopefully. That was kind of my only goal and it ended up working out better than that,” Barger said of his grand slam. “The fans are so energetic and we really feel it.”
The Jays racked up nine runs in the sixth inning alone, quickly.
“Those at-bats in that inning, starting with Bo [Bichette]’s walk, then a knock, it kind of just kept on going,” Jays Coach John Schneider told the media post-game. “Those were some pretty terrific at-bats from everyone up and down the order.”
After the sixth, some Jays fans were seen exiting the Rogers Centre early.
“We’re leaving early because we feel like the Jays have already won,” Omer, a Jays fan, told Now Toronto. “I couldn’t have asked for a better game.”
With the score at 11-2 in the top of the seventh, the Dodgers attempted to pick themselves back up. Ohtani lofted a two-run shot, though it hardly mattered. The Jays swept the Dodgers with the final score of 11-4.
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The electric energy was palpable at the Rogers Centre, with fans heated with excitement from the monumental win. Among the cheering crowd were also some disappointed faces from Dodgers fans.
“[Dodgers Coach Dave Roberts] managed the game terribly, he was awful,” Trent, a Dodgers fan, told Now. Trent had travelled from Florida to cheer for his favourite team. “The offense was awful. US$700 million man [Shohei Ohtani] has done nothing post-season.”
This is the first time the Toronto Blue Jays have advanced to the MLB World Series since their back-to-back championship wins in 1992 and ‘93.
“Collectively, a great team effort,” Mike Ventura told Now. “That’s how you respond, that’s how you open up a series.”
“That’s kind of how we roll,” Schneider told the media. “It was a good approach from everyone today.”
The Jays are now three wins away from becoming the World Series champions. They take on the Dodgers for Game 2 at home plate tonight at 8 p.m.
