Blue Jays On the Brink of Glory After Yesavage Tames Los Angeles 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 topped the Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, needing just one more triumph of their first title since 1993.
A Rookie's Record-Setting Night
The young Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, fanned a dozen batters without a single walk – achieving a historic World Series first. The first-year pitcher allowed one run on three hits across seven innings. He began the year pitching before a few hundred fans in Class A ball, but has now started and won two of Toronto’s three victories in this championship series.
A Quick Start for Toronto
Toronto’s hitters jumped out to a fast lead. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and homered to left field. Immediately after, Vladimir Guerrero Jr followed with another blast to a similar location. It marked the historic first for the Fall Classic that back-to-back homers started a game, shocking the spectators before most had found their seats.
The Pitcher's Dominance
Yesavage then assumed command. He fanned five in a row between the second and third innings, establishing a new rookie mark before the streak was snapped by Kiké Hernández with a home run in the third inning to make it 2–1. That was the nearest the Dodgers came.
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 score him for a 3–1 lead. The Los Angeles offense continued to sputter from there. After a six-run output in an 18-inning game, they’ve scored a mere four times in nearly 30 innings.
Late Inning Insurance
The starting pitcher lasted into the seventh inning but was chased in the seventh after the bases were packed. The two inherited runners scored – via a wild pitch and another on an RBI single – to extend the lead to 5–1. A hit in the eighth provided the last run.
Relievers Seal the Deal
Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Toronto faithful, and the bullpen did the rest. The relief corps each tossed a shutout frame to close it out, recording three strikeouts together while maintaining the stellar start.
Offensive Woes Continue
The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in hopes of igniting the offense, again couldn't find momentum. Their star slugger went 0-for-4 and is now without a hit in his last seven appearances since a record-setting on-base performance in the third game.
Looking Ahead to Game 6
Now up 3–2, Toronto return home with two chances to clinch. The sixth game is set for Friday at Toronto's ballpark.