Shohei Ohtani hit his first World Series home run but couldn’t smile as the Blue Jays crushed the Dodgers' pitching staff to seize the opening win.

Game 1 of the MLB World Series began today (25th) at the Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Blue Jays collected 14 hits as a team, featuring Addison Barger’s game-winning grand slam. Although Ohtani launched his first-ever World Series home run, it couldn’t alter the result, with Toronto closing out an 11-4 win to start the series strong.

At the start, Blue Jays rookie starter Trey Yesavage struck out Ohtani with his signature splitter, then got Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to ground out consecutively, retiring the Dodgers’ “MVP trio” in order in the first inning.

In the bottom of the first, after two outs, the Blue Jays rallied. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. earned a walk, Bo Bichette followed with a line-drive single, and Alejandro Kirk battled to draw another walk, loading the bases. However, Daulton Varsho’s fly ball failed to bring runs home, leaving the bases loaded and stranded runners.

The Dodgers’ turn saw Will Smith walk to first, but Teoscar Hernández grounded out, resulting in Smith being forced out at second. Hernández advanced on a fielder’s choice, Max Muncy hit a single, and Enrique Hernández added a line-drive hit, putting the Dodgers on the scoreboard. Tommy Edman reached on an infield hit with the bases loaded, but Andy Pages struck out and Ohtani grounded out along the first base line, ending the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Ernie Clement showcased his hitting skills with a line-drive single off a low breaking ball. Myles Straw struck out, Andrés Giménez was caught looking on a foul tip, and George Springer’s weak grounder caused confusion in the infield. Though the Dodgers tried to catch the lead runner, Clement was tagged out at third base after attempting to advance further.

In the top of the third, Betts and Freeman both drew walks, and Smith’s line-drive single brought in two runs. Freeman was then caught in a rundown between second and third, while Smith remained safe at second. Teoscar Hernández’s grounder was expertly fielded by Bichette, and Muncy struck out, ending the scoring threat.

In the next half-inning, after one out, Guerrero Jr. singled but Bichette’s double play quickly ended the rally. Returning to Dodgers’ offense, Enrique Hernández and Edman struck out consecutively, Pages’ deep fly was caught, and the score remained 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Blue Jays initiated a comeback. Kirk started with a deep fly single, and Varsho immediately capitalized on Snell’s fastball with a two-run homer to tie the game. Snell quickly regained composure, retiring the next three batters in order.

In the top of the fifth, the Blue Jays turned to their bullpen, bringing in Mason Fluharty to face Ohtani. Fluharty struck him out with a low breaking ball. Betts then hit a line-drive single, and after Freeman’s deep fly out, Toronto replaced the pitcher again with Seranthony Domínguez, who quickly retired Smith on one pitch.

Although Springer reached base first in the bottom of the fifth, Davis Schneider hit into a double play, Guerrero Jr. grounded out, and the Dodgers were effectively retired in order.

In the top of the sixth, Domínguez continued to face the Dodgers, striking out Teoscar Hernández, inducing a foul pop from Muncy, and finishing with a strikeout of Enrique Hernández to record four outs in the inning.

In the bottom half, Snell issued his third walk of the game to Bichette. The Blue Jays substituted Isiah Kiner-Falefa ("IKF") as a pinch runner. After Kirk’s single, Varsho battled and was hit by a pitch, loading the bases and forcing Snell out of the game. Emmet Sheehan came in to relieve.

Clement singled on a slider to center, driving in IKF and giving the Blue Jays the lead. Nathan Lukes was sent in to pinch hit, drawing a walk after an eight-pitch battle to push home the fourth run. Giménez followed with a hit, extending Toronto’s lead to 5-2. After retiring Springer, the Dodgers brought in Anthony Banda from the bullpen to face pinch hitter Barger.

Attempting a lefty-lefty matchup, the Dodgers were caught off guard when Barger connected on a mistake pitch for a grand slam, expanding the lead to seven runs. This was the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. Guerrero Jr. then added a single between the infield and outfield, and Kirk capped the rally with a two-run homer.

After the Dodgers endured a stormy sixth inning, Edman walked four straight pitches to start the seventh. Although Pages struck out, Ohtani launched his first-ever World Series home run, the first by a Japanese player since Hideki Matsui in 2009. His two-run homer brought the Dodgers closer at 4-11. Ohtani returned to the dugout with a serious expression. Subsequent at-bats by Betts and Freeman failed to extend the rally.

Justin Wrobleski came on in the bottom of the seventh and retired the side in order. The Blue Jays then brought in Chris Bassitt in the top of the eighth, who retired Smith, walked Teoscar Hernández, and struck out Muncy and Enrique Hernández consecutively.

Ultimately, the Dodgers were unable to break through Eric Lauer’s pitching in the top of the ninth, failing to add runs and suffering their first loss of the series, 4-11.