Toronto One Step Away of Victory After Rookie Phenom Tames Los Angeles in Fifth Match

Yesavage authored a masterclass on the mound and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays topped the Dodgers six to one on Wednesday evening, standing one win away of their first World Series championship since the 1993 season.

Yesavage's Historic Outing

The 22-year-old Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, struck out 12 without issuing a walk – the first pitcher in World Series history to do so. The rookie right-hander gave up only a single run on three hits in seven innings. He began the year pitching before a few hundred fans in Class A ball, but has now earned two starting wins in the series in this championship series.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters provided early support. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider turned on a 97mph 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, stunning the crowd before most had taken their places.

Yesavage Takes Control

Yesavage then took over. He retired five straight via strikeout between the early frames, setting a rookie record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a home run in the third inning to make it two to one. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth, Daulton Varsho smacked a triple to right field after a fielding error, and Ernie Clement lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a 3–1 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.

Late Inning Insurance

The Dodgers starter persisted for over six frames but exited in the seventh after the bases were packed. The two inherited runners scored – one on a wild pitch and the other on a run-scoring hit – to push the lead to four runs. A eighth-inning base hit provided the last run.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage exited to a standing ovation from the Blue Jays supporters, and the pen closed it out. The bullpen arms each worked a scoreless inning to close it out, fanning three batters collectively while preserving the rookie’s masterpiece.

Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters

The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup 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 a record-setting on-base performance in Game 3.

On the Verge of a Championship

Now up 3–2, Toronto return home with two opportunities to win it all. The sixth game is set for Friday at Toronto's ballpark.

Cynthia Sweeney
Cynthia Sweeney

A seasoned content strategist with over a decade of experience in digital marketing and blogging, passionate about helping others succeed online.