Addison Barger's Pinch-hit Grand Slam Was A World Series First

There person been 120 World Series earlier this one, and while those Series person included pinch-hit location runs (Kirk Gibson!) and expansive slams (Freddie Freeman!), nan Fall Classic had ne'er seen a location tally that met some criteria.

Until Friday.

In nan bottommost of nan sixth inning Friday night, nan Blue Jays' Addison Barger stepped to nan sheet to deed for near fielder Davis Schneider. On a 2-1 transportation from Emmett Sheehan, Barger parked an 84 mph slider complete nan halfway section obstruction to springiness Toronto a 9–2 lead complete nan Dodgers successful Game 1 of nan World Series.

Barger's plaything was, remarkably, nan first pinch-hit expansive slam successful nan 122-year history of nan competition. It served arsenic nan centerpiece of a nine-run inning that blew unfastened a necktie game.

The 25-year-old Bellevue, Wash., autochthonal owns 28 location runs successful his two-year career. None has been a expansive slam.

The postseason is simply a different animal, however, and connected Friday Barger—a .286 hitter successful nan postseason entering Friday—gave Blue Jays fans a infinitesimal they'll ne'er forget.

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