Blue Jays One Step Away of Victory After Yesavage Tames Dodgers in Game 5
Trey Yesavage delivered a performance for the ages and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Dodgers six to one on Wednesday evening, moving within one victory of their first championship since the 1993 season.
A Rookie's Record-Setting Night
The 22-year-old Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, recorded 12 strikeouts and zero walks – the first pitcher in World Series history to do so. The first-year pitcher allowed one run on three hits across seven innings. He started the season in Class A before sparse crowds, but has now been the winning pitcher in two of Toronto's three wins in this best-of-seven series.
Early Offensive Explosion
Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider connected with a high-velocity fastball and drove it over the left-field wall. Just moments later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr homered as well to a similar location. It marked the unprecedented occurrence in the World Series that the game began with two straight homers, leaving the audience in awe before most had settled in.
Yesavage Takes Control
Yesavage then went to work. He retired five straight via strikeout between the second and third innings, establishing a new rookie mark before the streak was snapped by Kiké Hernández with a solo shot in the bottom of the third to make it 2–1. That was the nearest the Dodgers came.
Building the Advantage
In the fourth, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a misplay, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a three to one lead. The Dodgers' bats remained quiet from there. After a six-run output in an 18-inning game, they’ve produced just four runs in their last 29 innings.
Late Inning Insurance
The starting pitcher battled through six and two-thirds innings but exited in the seventh after the bases became full. Both runners he left behind came around to score – via a wild pitch and another on an RBI single – to extend the lead to 5–1. A single in the eighth provided the last run.
Relievers Seal the Deal
Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Blue Jays supporters, and the relievers finished the job. The bullpen arms each worked a scoreless inning to end the game, combining for three strikeouts while protecting the rookie's gem.
Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters
The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in hopes of igniting the offense, again found little traction. Their star slugger went without a hit in four trips and is now riding an 0-for-7 skid since setting a World Series on-base record in the third game.
Looking Ahead to Game 6
Now leading the series three games to two, Toronto go back to their own stadium with two games to secure the title. Game 6 is Friday night at Toronto's ballpark.