Addison Barger's late Game 3 home run meant more than you thought for the Blue Jays

In Game 3 of the ALCS, the Toronto Blue Jays' bats exploded and Shane Bieber dealt on the mound, resulting in a lopsided 13-4 win. After being held to only four combined runs in the first two games the offense finally reignited.

This team has been a far cry from the team that put up 39 runs in the ALDS. Included in the five home run game was Addison Barger's ninth-inning blast. It became a key symbol of this offensive resurgence, representing both renewed team energy and hope for the Toronto faithful.

Addison Barger's late Game 3 home run meant more than you thought for the Blue Jays

Barger has had an up-and-down season and has struggled in the ALCS. He went 0-for-6 with two walks in Game 1. After going 0-for-4 in Game 3, he faced a 1-1 count, then crushed an inside fastball from Luke Jackson to deep right for his first postseason home run, making it 13-4, the fifth Blue Jays homer. Andrés Giménez, George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Alejandro Kirk also homered, matching the team's Game 2 ALDS total.

Barger's home run meant more with family and friends watching. Born in Bellevue, Washington, he lived near T-Mobile Park for six years before moving to Florida. Rounding the bases in his hometown was special, especially since he's had a tough first full MLB season, hitting .223/.284/.395 in the second half of the season and moving down the lineup.

Despite his ups and downs, Barger has excelled in his hometown. In a May series that the Blue Jays swept, he went 6-14 with a homer and five RBIs in a three-game series. The Blue Jays hope this big homer sparks his postseason performance as they fight for their first World Series trip since 1993.

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