Toronto One Step Away of Glory After Yesavage Dominates Los Angeles in Fifth Match
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 six to one on Wednesday evening, standing one win away of their first title since the 1993 season.
Yesavage's Historic Outing
The young Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, fanned a dozen batters without a single walk – setting a new World Series record. The first-year pitcher surrendered just one run on three hits over seven frames. He began the year pitching before a few hundred fans in Class A ball, but has now earned two starting wins in the series in this best-of-seven series.
Early Offensive Explosion
Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider turned on a 97mph fastball and sent it over the left-field fence. Just moments later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr followed with another blast to almost the exact same place. It marked the unprecedented occurrence in the World Series that back-to-back homers started a game, leaving the audience in awe before most had settled in.
Yesavage Takes Control
Yesavage then assumed command. He fanned five in a row between the second and third innings, breaking a rookie pitching record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a solo shot in the bottom of the third 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 defensive mistake, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a three to one lead. The Dodgers' bats remained quiet 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 Dodgers starter lasted into the seventh inning but couldn’t escape the seventh after the bases became full. The runners he allowed both crossed the plate – one on a wild pitch and the other on a run-scoring hit – to make it 5–1. A eighth-inning base hit provided the concluding score.
Bullpen Secures the Win
Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Toronto faithful, and the relievers finished the job. The bullpen arms each worked a scoreless inning to secure the victory, combining for three strikeouts while preserving the rookie’s masterpiece.
Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters
The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in hopes of igniting the offense, again found little traction. Their key batter went hitless in four at-bats and is now hitless in seven at-bats since setting a World Series on-base record in the third game.
On the Verge of a Championship
Now leading the series three games to two, Toronto go back to their own stadium with two chances to clinch. Friday evening features Game 6 at their home field.