Blue Jays One Step Away of Victory After Yesavage Tames Los Angeles in Game 5

Yesavage authored a masterclass on the mound and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Blue Jays topped the Los Angeles Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday evening, standing one win away of their first 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 surrendered just one run on three hits over seven frames. 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 seven-game set.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters jumped out to a fast lead. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider connected with a high-velocity fastball and sent it over the left-field fence. Just moments later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr added a second home run to a similar location. It marked the unprecedented occurrence in the World Series that the game began with two straight homers, shocking the spectators before most had taken their places.

The Pitcher's Dominance

Yesavage then took over. He fanned five in a row between the early frames, establishing a new rookie mark before the streak was snapped by Kiké Hernández 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 inning, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a misplay, and Ernie Clement lifted 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 produced just four runs in their last 29 innings.

Late Inning Insurance

The starting pitcher persisted for over six frames but exited in the seventh after the Blue Jays loaded the bases. The two inherited runners scored – thanks to a errant throw and another on an RBI single – to extend the lead to 5–1. A single in the eighth provided the concluding score.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage exited to a standing ovation from the traveling fans, and the relievers finished the job. The bullpen arms each tossed a shutout frame to secure the victory, recording three strikeouts together while protecting the rookie's gem.

Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters

The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in an attempt to generate runs, again struggled to get going. Their top hitter 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.

Looking Ahead to Game 6

Now leading the series three games to two, Toronto return home with two opportunities to win it all. Friday evening features Game 6 at Rogers Centre.

Joseph Newton
Joseph Newton

A passionate skincare enthusiast with over a decade of experience in dermatology and beauty blogging.