Blue Jays On the Brink of Victory After Rookie Phenom Tames Dodgers in Game 5
Yesavage authored a masterclass on the mound and Davis Schneider launched a home run on the game's initial offering as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday evening, moving within one victory of their first World Series championship since 1993.
Yesavage's Historic Outing
The 22-year-old Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, recorded 12 strikeouts and zero walks – the first pitcher in World Series history to do so. 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 been the winning pitcher in two of Toronto's three wins in this seven-game set.
A Quick Start for Toronto
Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and drove it over the left-field wall. Immediately after, Vladimir Guerrero Jr homered as well to a similar location. It marked the historic first for the Fall Classic that back-to-back homers started a game, leaving the audience in awe before most had settled in.
The Pitcher's Dominance
Yesavage then went to work. He retired five straight via strikeout between the early frames, establishing a new rookie mark before Hernández ended the run with a home run in the bottom of the third to make it 2–1. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.
Extending the Lead
In the fourth, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a defensive mistake, and Ernie Clement hit a sac fly to plate the run for a three to one lead. The Los Angeles offense continued to sputter from there. After scoring six runs in Monday’s 18-inning marathon, 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 were packed. Both runners he left behind came around to score – via a wild pitch and the other on a run-scoring hit – to make it 5–1. A single in the eighth provided the concluding score.
Relievers Seal the Deal
Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Blue Jays supporters, and the bullpen did the rest. The late-inning pitchers each worked a scoreless inning to secure the victory, recording three strikeouts together while maintaining the stellar start.
Offensive Woes Continue
The Dodgers, who rearranged their batting order in an attempt to generate runs, again struggled to get going. Their star slugger went hitless in four at-bats and is now without a hit in his last seven appearances since a record-setting on-base performance in the third game.
On the Verge of a Championship
Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto return home with two games to secure the title. The sixth game is set for Friday at their home field.