Blue Jays One Step Away of Glory After Rookie Phenom Dominates 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, needing just one more triumph of their first championship since 1993.
Yesavage's Historic Outing
The 22-year-old Yesavage, who debuted in the majors this past September, struck out 12 without issuing a walk – the first pitcher in World Series history to do so. The rookie right-hander 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 best-of-seven series.
Early Offensive Explosion
Toronto’s hitters provided early support. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and drove it over the left-field wall. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr homered as well to almost the exact same place. It marked the first time in World Series history that the game began with two straight homers, stunning the crowd before most had settled in.
The Pitcher's Dominance
Yesavage then took over. He struck out five consecutive batters between the early frames, setting a rookie record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a solo homer in the bottom of the third to make it 2–1. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.
Extending the Lead
In the fourth inning, Daulton Varsho smacked a triple to right field after a fielding error, and Ernie Clement lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the run for a three to one lead. The Los Angeles offense continued to sputter from there. After scoring six runs in Monday’s 18-inning marathon, they’ve produced just four runs in their last 29 innings.
Late Inning Insurance
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 single in the eighth provided the final margin.
Relievers Seal the Deal
Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Blue Jays supporters, and the bullpen did the rest. The bullpen arms each tossed a shutout frame to close it out, fanning three batters collectively while preserving the rookie’s masterpiece.
Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters
The Dodgers, who rearranged their batting order 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 Game 3.
On the Verge of a Championship
Now leading the series three games to two, Toronto return home with two opportunities to win it all. Game 6 is Friday night at Toronto's ballpark.