Sports
Blue Jays thrash Dodgers 11-4 to win World Series opener | The Express Tribune
Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger hits a grand slam home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in game one of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on October 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. PHOTO: AFP
TORONTO:
Addison Barger blasted a towering grand slam as the Toronto Blue Jays thrashed the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 to take a 1-0 lead in Major League Baseball’s World Series on Friday.
Barger’s 413-foot blast to center field at Toronto’s Rogers Centre was the highlight of a spectacular nine-run sixth inning by the Blue Jays, playing in their first World Series in 32 years.
“It was just like a blackout moment, just crazy,” an elated Barger said of his grand slam after the win.
“We have such a tight energetic group, and we’re having fun out there. We’re not taking it too serious. We understand we’re playing the Dodgers – but we’re trying to keep everything the same and just go out and compete,” Barger added.
The win gives Toronto a precious early lead in the best-of-seven series, and they will look to double their advantage with victory in game two in Toronto on Saturday.
The Dodgers, bidding to become the first team in a quarter of a century to win back-to-back World Series, had made a smooth start, with Enrique Hernandez and Will Smith driving in early runs off Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage to open up a 2-0 lead.
But the star-studded champions — the most expensively assembled team in baseball — were unable to build on their early lead despite getting the better of Yesavage.
Instead it was Toronto — who have now won 50 games this season after trailing — who wrestled their way back into contention with Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell unable to produce his most dominant form from the mound.
Toronto drew level in the fourth inning after catcher Alejandro Kirk singled into right field to get on base, and when Daulton Varsho crushed a 423-foot shot to center-field, the game was tied.
Toronto’s deep and disciplined batting line-up continued to cause problems for Snell, who was knocked out of the game in the sixth inning after loading the bases with no outs. Snell gave up eights hits across five innings with five earned runs.
‘We need to be better’
The Blue Jays then ruthlessly pounced on Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan to pull clear, with a single from Ernie Clement scoring Bo Bichette to give Toronto a 3-2 lead.
Nathan Lukes then drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Blue Jays a 4-2 lead with no outs before Andres Gimenez singled to make it 5-2.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts replaced Sheehan with reliever Anthony Banda, but the Blue Jays continued to pile on.
Barger’s grand slam made it 9-2 and then Kirk tacked on a two-run homer to put the Blue Jays 11-2 up as a sold-out Rogers Centre crowd erupted in delight.
The Dodgers’ Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani scored a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 11-4 but it never looked like being anything other than a consolation shot before Toronto closed out the win.
Dodgers skipper Roberts meanwhile denied that his team had been blunted by a week-long layoff following their National League Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee.
“Honestly, I really don’t think the week layoff had anything to do with tonight, I really don’t,” Roberts said.
“We were rested. I thought we were in a good spot. We had a 2-0 lead and then Varsho hits a homer and we didn’t pitch well after that. So I really honestly don’t think that had anything to do with it.”
Roberts instead blamed his team’s inability to score early on, when they left several runners stranded on base as Yesavage struggled.
“At times, I think that the offense looks great as far as building innings, but there’s some key at-bats that you got to win pitches and use the other side of the field, get a hit, take a walk, whatever it might be,” Roberts said.
“But I think that we can be better, we need to be better.”
After Saturday’s game two, the series will head to Los Angeles for games three, four and five on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Games six and seven, if needed will take place in Toronto.
Today is a very important and decisive clash between India and Pakistan to reach the semi-finals in the Under-19 World Cup 2026.
This important match will be played today, Sunday, in Zimbabwe, which will start at 12:30 pm according to Pakistani time and 1 pm according to Indian time.
This match is the last match of the Super Six stage and one team is yet to be decided for the semi-finals, England from Group 2 has already qualified for the semi-finals, while the other team will be India or Pakistan.
India is currently in a better position with six points and its net run rate is 3.337, it is very easy for India, it only has to win the match and it will qualify for the semi-finals.
But on the other hand, Pakistan has four points and its net run rate is 1.484, which is significantly lower than India. Pakistan not only needs to win this match but also by a large margin to equal India in points and also surpass them in net run rate.
If Pakistan scores 300 runs batting first, it will need to win by at least 85 runs. If Pakistan bowls first and restricts India to around 200 runs, the target will have to be achieved in 31.5 overs.
If India scores 251 runs, Pakistan will have to achieve this target in around 33.2 overs to make it to the semi-finals.
It should be noted that this match will not be just about winning or losing but will be a test of runs, overs and nerves where a small slip-up can knock one team out of the World Cup.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The judge in Alabama men’s basketball player Charles Bediako‘s eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA has recused himself from the case.
Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge James Roberts filed the order Wednesday, according to court documents. AL.com first reported Roberts’ recusal.
The case was reassigned to Judge Daniel Pruet, an Alabama graduate who is overseeing the murder case involving former Crimson Tide player Darius Miles.
The NCAA filed a motion for recusal Tuesday, noting Roberts’ donations to the university as well as public perception that his relationship with Alabama athletics could alter his judgment in the case. Roberts was listed as a donor on the Crimson Tide Foundation’s website.
“Courts in Alabama and beyond have widely recognized that a mere appearance of partiality is sufficient to require the recusal of a trial judge,” the NCAA wrote. “This appearance can be compounded by widespread media and public scrutiny questioning the trial court’s impartiality. Despite the NCAA’s confidence that the Court can disregard his connections to the University of Alabama and its athletics programs, recusal is still necessary to protect these proceedings from an appearance of impropriety.”
Bediako’s attorneys did not oppose the motion.
Bediako is suing the NCAA in an attempt to regain college eligibility despite leaving school and entering the 2023 NBA draft. He went undrafted but signed a two-way NBA contract and played the past three seasons in the G League. Roberts granted a temporary restraining order last week that allows Bediako to play for the Crimson Tide, at least until a hearing on an injunction can be held.
No. 23 Alabama plays at No. 19 Florida on Sunday.
The NCAA and several college coaches, including Florida’s Todd Golden, have strongly opposed Bediako’s return to college basketball.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was fined $50,000 for “aggressively pursuing, berating and making inadvertent contact with a game official,” the NBA announced Saturday.
The league’s announcement said the incident happened with 10:59 left in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s 126-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns Friday.
Atkinson was assessed his second technical foul of the game when he stormed the court after a no-call against Sam Merrill for driving on Collin Gillespie after he bumped into an official before being escorted off and ejected from the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during the second half in Game 4 of a first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat April 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)
Atkinson whipped his arm against the nearby referee before the whistle was blown.
Atkinson ripped the officials in a postgame news conference.
PGA TOUR STAR JUSTIN THOMAS RIPS NCAA FOR CURRENT STATE OF COLLEGE SPORTS
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers during Game 2 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland May 6, 2025. (David Richard-Imagn Images)
“We had one free throw after three quarters against a team that [is 26th in fouls],” Atkinson said. “And the second free throw we got was after a flop. I’m not pleased. I thought the game got out of hand, quite honestly. Parts of the game seemed circus-like, quite honestly. I don’t know if that’s what we want as a league.
“Certain characters in this league take liberties, and we don’t stand up to them. And the game turns into reviews, challenges, go to the monitor for 20 minutes when we’re just trying to play basketball. I don’t think it’s good for the league, and I know it wasn’t good for us tonight. Thought they let the game get out of hand.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during the first half against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)
The Cavaliers fell to 29-21, while Phoenix improved to 30-19.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New Income Tax Act 2025 to come into effect from April 1, key reliefs announced in Budget 2026
Budget 2026 Live Updates: TCS On Overseas Tour Packages Slashed To 2%; TDS On Education LRS Eased
Trump says India will buy oil from Venezuela, not Iran
-
Business1 week agoSuccess Story: This IITian Failed 17 Times Before Building A ₹40,000 Crore Giant
-
Fashion1 week agoSouth Korea tilts sourcing towards China as apparel imports shift
-
Sports1 week agoTransfer rumors, news: Saudi league eyes Salah, Vinícius Jr. plus 50 more
-
Sports5 days agoPSL 11: Local players’ category renewals unveiled ahead of auction
-
Entertainment1 week agoThree dead after suicide blast targets peace committee leader’s home in DI Khan
-
Sports1 week agoWanted Olympian-turned-fugitive Ryan Wedding in custody, sources say
-
Tech1 week agoStrap One of Our Favorite Action Cameras to Your Helmet or a Floaty
-
Tech1 week agoThis Mega Snowstorm Will Be a Test for the US Supply Chain