Toronto One Step Away of Glory After Rookie Phenom Dominates Los Angeles in Fifth Match
Trey Yesavage turned in a legendary performance and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays topped the Dodgers six to one on Wednesday, standing one win away of their first World Series championship since 1993.
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 – achieving a historic World Series first. The first-year pitcher gave up only a single run on three hits in seven innings. 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 best-of-seven series.
A Quick Start for Toronto
Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the game's opening offering, Schneider connected with a high-velocity fastball and drove it over the left-field wall. Just moments later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr homered as well to almost the exact same place. It marked the historic first for the Fall Classic that the game began with two straight homers, shocking the spectators before most had settled in.
Yesavage Takes Control
Yesavage then went to work. He fanned five in a row between the second and third innings, breaking a rookie pitching record before Hernández ended the run with a solo homer in the bottom of the third to make it 2–1. That was the nearest the Dodgers came.
Extending the Lead
In the fourth, 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 Dodgers' bats remained quiet from there. After a six-run output in an 18-inning game, they’ve managed only four across the past 29 innings.
Seventh-Inning Rally
The Dodgers starter persisted for over six frames but couldn’t escape the seventh after the Blue Jays loaded the bases. Both runners he left behind came around to score – one on a wild pitch and one more on a base hit – to make it 5–1. A hit in the eighth provided the concluding score.
Bullpen Secures the Win
Yesavage received a standing ovation upon leaving from the traveling fans, and the pen closed it out. The bullpen arms each pitched an inning without allowing a run to close it out, recording three strikeouts together while preserving the rookie’s masterpiece.
Offensive Woes Continue
The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in an attempt to generate runs, again found little traction. Their key batter went 0-for-4 and is now without a hit in his last seven appearances since reaching base a World Series-record nine times in the third game.
Looking Ahead to Game 6
Now leading the series three games to two, Toronto return home with two games to secure the title. The sixth game is set for Friday at their home field.