Toronto One Step Away of Glory After Rookie Phenom Tames Los Angeles in Game 5
Trey Yesavage turned in a legendary performance and Schneider connected for a homer on the opening pitch as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, needing just one more triumph of their first championship since 1993.
A Rookie's Record-Setting Night
The 22-year-old Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, fanned a dozen batters without a single walk – 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 started the season in Class A before sparse crowds, but has now started and won two of Toronto’s three victories in this seven-game set.
A Quick Start for Toronto
Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the game's opening offering, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and sent it over the left-field fence. Immediately after, Vladimir Guerrero Jr followed with another blast to nearly the same spot. It marked the historic first for the Fall Classic that consecutive home runs opened a game, leaving the audience in awe before most had settled in.
The Pitcher's Dominance
Yesavage then assumed command. He retired five straight via strikeout between the early frames, breaking a rookie pitching record before Hernández ended the run 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, Daulton Varsho tripled down the right-field line after a defensive mistake, and Ernie Clement hit a sac fly to score him for a three to one lead. The Dodgers’ offensive struggles deepened 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 starting pitcher battled through six and two-thirds innings but couldn’t escape the seventh after the bases were packed. The runners he allowed both crossed the plate – via a wild pitch and the other on a run-scoring hit – to push the lead to four runs. A hit in the eighth provided the concluding score.
Relievers Seal the Deal
Yesavage received a standing ovation upon leaving from the traveling fans, and the bullpen did the rest. The late-inning pitchers each tossed a shutout frame to end the game, combining for three strikeouts while maintaining the stellar start.
Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters
The Dodgers, who rearranged their batting order in an attempt to generate runs, again found little traction. Their key batter went without a hit in four trips and is now without a hit in his last seven appearances since reaching base a World Series-record nine times in the third game.
On the Verge of a Championship
Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto go back to their own stadium with two opportunities to win it all. Game 6 is Friday night at Toronto's ballpark.