Blue Jays On the Brink of Glory After Rookie Phenom Tames Dodgers in Game 5

Trey Yesavage turned in a legendary performance and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, standing one win away of their first championship since the 1993 season.

Yesavage's Historic Outing

The young Yesavage, who debuted in the majors this past September, fanned a dozen batters without a single walk – the first pitcher in World Series history to do so. The rookie right-hander surrendered just one run on three hits over seven frames. 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 championship series.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the game's opening offering, Schneider turned on a 97mph fastball and sent it over the left-field fence. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr followed with another blast to almost the exact same place. It marked the historic first for the Fall Classic that consecutive home runs opened a game, 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, breaking a rookie pitching record before the streak was snapped by Kiké Hernández with a solo shot in the third inning to make it 2–1. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.

Building the Advantage

In the fourth, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a fielding error, and Ernie Clement lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the run 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 produced just four runs in their last 29 innings.

Seventh-Inning Rally

The starting pitcher lasted into the seventh inning but was chased in the seventh after the Blue Jays loaded the bases. 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 concluding score.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage received a standing ovation upon leaving from the Blue Jays supporters, and the relievers finished the job. The late-inning pitchers each worked a scoreless inning to end the game, recording three strikeouts together while protecting the rookie's gem.

Offensive Woes Continue

The Dodgers, who adjusted their lineup in search of a spark, again struggled to get going. Their top hitter 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 head back to their home ballpark with two opportunities to win it all. Friday evening features Game 6 at Rogers Centre.

Nicholas Kline
Nicholas Kline

Tech enthusiast and smart home expert with a passion for reviewing cutting-edge gadgets and simplifying IoT for everyday users.