Toronto On the Brink of Glory After Yesavage Tames Los Angeles in Fifth Match
Trey Yesavage turned in a legendary performance and Schneider connected for a homer on the opening pitch as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, standing one win away of their first championship since the 1993 season.
A Rookie's Record-Setting Night
The 22-year-old 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 first-year pitcher allowed one run on three hits across seven innings. His year commenced in the low minors with minimal fanfare, but has now started and won two of Toronto’s three victories in this seven-game set.
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 sent it over the left-field fence. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr homered as well to almost the exact same place. It marked the unprecedented occurrence in the World Series that back-to-back homers started a game, shocking the spectators before most had found their seats.
The Pitcher's Dominance
Yesavage then went to work. He retired five straight via strikeout between the second and third innings, setting a rookie record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a solo homer in the third inning to make it two to one. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.
Extending the Lead
In the fourth, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a fielding error, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to plate the run 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.
Seventh-Inning Rally
The starting pitcher persisted for over six frames but was chased in the seventh after the bases were packed. The runners he allowed both crossed the plate – one on a wild pitch and another on an RBI single – to push the lead to four runs. A single in the eighth provided the concluding score.
Relievers Seal the Deal
Yesavage exited to a standing ovation 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, combining for three strikeouts while protecting the rookie's gem.
Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters
The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in an attempt to generate runs, again couldn't find momentum. Their key batter went 0-for-4 and is now hitless in seven at-bats 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. Friday evening features Game 6 at Rogers Centre.
