Toronto One Step Away of Victory After Yesavage Dominates Los Angeles in Fifth Match
Trey Yesavage turned in a legendary performance and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays topped the Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday evening, moving within one victory of their first championship since 1993.
A Rookie's Record-Setting Night
The 22-year-old Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, struck out 12 without issuing a walk – setting a new World Series record. The first-year pitcher gave up only a single run on three hits in seven innings. He began the year pitching before a few hundred fans in Class A ball, but has now been the winning pitcher in two of Toronto's three wins in this seven-game set.
A Quick Start for Toronto
Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the initial throw, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and drove it over the left-field wall. Immediately after, Vladimir Guerrero Jr homered as well to almost the exact same place. It marked the historic first for the Fall Classic that the game began with two straight homers, stunning the crowd before most had taken their places.
The Pitcher's Dominance
Yesavage then took over. He struck out five consecutive batters between the second and third innings, breaking a rookie pitching record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a solo shot in the bottom of the third to make it two to one. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.
Building the Advantage
In the fourth, Daulton Varsho tripled down the right-field line after a defensive mistake, and Ernie Clement lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a three to one lead. The Dodgers’ offensive struggles deepened from there. After a six-run output in an 18-inning game, they’ve managed only four across the past 29 innings.
Seventh-Inning Rally
The Dodgers starter battled through six and two-thirds innings but was chased in the seventh after the Blue Jays loaded the bases. Both runners he left behind came around to score – thanks to a errant throw and another on an RBI single – to extend the lead to 5–1. A eighth-inning base hit provided the last run.
Bullpen Secures the Win
Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Blue Jays supporters, and the bullpen did the rest. The late-inning pitchers each pitched an inning without allowing a run to close it out, recording three strikeouts together while protecting the rookie's gem.
Offensive Woes Continue
The Dodgers, who rearranged their batting order in search of a spark, again found little traction. Their top hitter went without a hit in four trips and is now hitless in seven at-bats since reaching base a World Series-record nine times in Game 3.
Looking Ahead to Game 6
Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto head back to their home ballpark with two games to secure the title. Game 6 is Friday night at Toronto's ballpark.