Toronto On the Brink of Glory After Yesavage Tames Dodgers in Fifth Match
Trey Yesavage delivered a performance for the ages and Schneider connected for a homer on the opening pitch as the Blue Jays topped the Los Angeles Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, moving within one victory of their first championship since 1993.
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. His year commenced in the low minors with minimal fanfare, but has now been the winning pitcher in two of Toronto's three wins in this seven-game set.
Early Offensive Explosion
Toronto’s hitters provided early support. On the initial throw, Schneider connected with a high-velocity fastball and drove it over the left-field wall. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr followed with another blast to a similar location. It marked the first time in World Series history that back-to-back homers started a game, stunning the crowd before most had settled in.
The Pitcher's Dominance
Yesavage then took over. He fanned five in a row between the second and third innings, establishing a new rookie mark before Hernández ended the run with a solo homer in the bottom of the third to make it 2–1. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.
Extending the Lead
In the fourth inning, Daulton Varsho smacked a triple to right field after a fielding error, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to score him for a 3–1 lead. The Dodgers' bats remained quiet from there. After managing six runs in a lengthy extra-inning contest, they’ve scored a mere four times in nearly 30 innings.
Late Inning Insurance
The Dodgers starter lasted into the seventh inning but exited in the seventh after the bases became full. Both runners he left behind came around to score – thanks to a errant throw 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 Toronto faithful, and the bullpen did the rest. The late-inning pitchers each tossed a shutout frame to close it out, recording three strikeouts together while protecting the rookie's gem.
Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters
The Dodgers, who rearranged their batting order in hopes of igniting the offense, again struggled to get going. Their top hitter went without a hit in four trips and is now hitless in seven at-bats since a record-setting on-base performance in Game 3.
On the Verge of a Championship
Now up 3–2, Toronto head back to their home ballpark with two opportunities to win it all. Friday evening features Game 6 at Toronto's ballpark.