Toronto One Step Away of Victory After Rookie Phenom Tames Dodgers in Game 5

Trey Yesavage delivered a performance for the ages and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers six to one on Wednesday evening, standing one win away of their first championship since the 1993 season.

A Rookie's Record-Setting Night

The young Yesavage, who debuted in the majors this past September, recorded 12 strikeouts and zero walks – setting a new World Series record. 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 earned two starting wins in the series in this seven-game set.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters provided early support. On the initial throw, Schneider connected with a high-velocity fastball and drove it over the left-field wall. Immediately after, Vladimir Guerrero Jr followed with another blast to almost the exact same place. It marked the first time in World Series history that back-to-back homers started a game, stunning the crowd before most had settled in.

The Pitcher's Dominance

Yesavage then went to work. He retired five straight via strikeout between the early frames, breaking a rookie pitching record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a home run in the third inning to make it 2–1. That was the nearest the Dodgers came.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth inning, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a misplay, and Ernie Clement lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a three to one lead. The Los Angeles offense continued to sputter from there. After managing six runs in a lengthy extra-inning contest, they’ve managed only four across the past 29 innings.

Late Inning Insurance

The starting pitcher persisted for over six frames but was chased in the seventh after the bases became full. The two inherited runners scored – via a wild pitch and one more on a base hit – to push the lead to four runs. A eighth-inning base hit provided the last run.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Blue Jays supporters, and the pen closed it out. The relief corps each pitched an inning without allowing a run to end the game, fanning three batters collectively while protecting the rookie's gem.

Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters

The Dodgers, who rearranged their batting order 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 a record-setting on-base performance in the third game.

Looking Ahead to Game 6

Now up 3–2, Toronto return home with two games to secure the title. The sixth game is set for Friday at Rogers Centre.

Daniel Potter
Daniel Potter

A passionate traveler and cultural enthusiast, sharing insights from years of exploring Indonesia's diverse regions.