Blue Jays On the Brink of Victory After Yesavage Tames Los Angeles 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 Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles 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 young Yesavage, who debuted in the majors this past September, recorded 12 strikeouts and zero walks – achieving a historic World Series first. The first-year pitcher allowed one run on three hits across 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 championship series.
A Quick Start for Toronto
Toronto’s hitters provided early support. On the game's opening offering, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and sent it over the left-field fence. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr added a second home run to a similar location. 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 early frames, 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 two to one. That was as close as Los Angeles would get.
Building the Advantage
In the fourth inning, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a misplay, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a three to one lead. The Los Angeles offense continued to sputter 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 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 one more on a base hit – to extend the lead to 5–1. A hit in the eighth provided the concluding score.
Bullpen Secures the Win
Yesavage was cheered off the field from the traveling fans, and the pen closed it out. The late-inning pitchers each worked a scoreless inning to end the game, fanning three batters collectively while preserving the rookie’s masterpiece.
Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters
The Dodgers, who rearranged their batting order in search of a spark, again found little traction. Their key batter went 0-for-4 and is now without a hit in his last seven appearances since setting a World Series on-base record in the third game.
On the Verge of a Championship
Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto head back to their home ballpark with two games to secure the title. Friday evening features Game 6 at their home field.