Toronto One Step Away of Victory After Rookie Phenom Dominates Los Angeles in Game 5

Trey Yesavage turned in a legendary performance and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, moving within one victory of their first World Series championship since the 1993 season.

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 – setting a new World Series record. 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 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 game's opening offering, Schneider turned on a 97mph fastball and homered to left field. Immediately after, Vladimir Guerrero Jr added a second home run to almost the exact same place. It marked the first time in World Series history that the game began with two straight homers, leaving the audience in awe before most had found their seats.

Yesavage Takes Control

Yesavage then took over. He fanned five in a row between the second and third innings, 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 as close as Los Angeles would get.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth, Daulton Varsho tripled down the right-field line after a defensive mistake, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to score him for a three to one lead. The Dodgers’ offensive struggles deepened from there. After managing six runs in a lengthy extra-inning contest, they’ve scored a mere four times in nearly 30 innings.

Seventh-Inning Rally

The starting pitcher persisted for over six frames but was chased in the seventh after the Blue Jays loaded the bases. The two inherited runners scored – thanks to a errant throw and one more on a base hit – to make it 5–1. A eighth-inning base hit provided the concluding score.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Blue Jays supporters, and the relievers finished the job. The late-inning pitchers each pitched an inning without allowing a run to close it out, recording three strikeouts together while protecting the rookie's gem.

Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters

The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in hopes of igniting the offense, again couldn't find momentum. Their key batter went 0-for-4 and is now riding an 0-for-7 skid since setting a World Series on-base record in the third game.

Looking Ahead to Game 6

Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto go back to their own stadium with two games to secure the title. The sixth game is set for Friday at Toronto's ballpark.

Nicholas Cherry
Nicholas Cherry

A travel enthusiast and local expert sharing insights on Trento's hidden gems and outdoor adventures.