Blue Jays On the Brink of Glory After Yesavage Dominates Dodgers in Game 5

Yesavage authored a masterclass on the mound and Schneider connected for a homer on the opening pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers six to one on Wednesday, standing one win away of their first championship since 1993.

A Rookie's Record-Setting Night

The 22-year-old Yesavage, who only reached the big leagues 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. His year commenced in the low minors with minimal fanfare, but has now started and won two of Toronto’s three victories in this championship series.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters jumped out to a fast lead. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and homered to left field. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr added a second home run to a similar location. It marked the first time in World Series history that the game began with two straight homers, shocking the spectators before most had taken their places.

Yesavage Takes Control

Yesavage then took over. He struck out five consecutive batters between the early frames, setting a rookie record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a solo shot in the third inning to make it 2–1. That was the nearest the Dodgers came.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth inning, Daulton Varsho smacked a triple to right field after a misplay, and Ernie Clement lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the run for a 3–1 lead. The Dodgers’ offensive struggles deepened from there. After scoring six runs in Monday’s 18-inning marathon, 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 bases became full. The two inherited runners scored – via a wild pitch and one more on a base hit – to push the lead to four runs. A single in the eighth provided the concluding score.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage received a standing ovation upon leaving from the Blue Jays supporters, and the bullpen did the rest. The relief corps each tossed a shutout frame to close it out, recording three strikeouts together while protecting the rookie's gem.

Offensive Woes Continue

The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in an attempt to generate runs, again couldn't find momentum. Their key batter went without a hit in four trips and is now riding an 0-for-7 skid since a record-setting on-base performance in the third game.

On the Verge of a Championship

Now leading the series three games to two, Toronto go back to their own stadium with two chances to clinch. Game 6 is Friday night at Toronto's ballpark.

April Clark
April Clark

A tech enthusiast and journalist with a passion for exploring cutting-edge gadgets and sharing actionable insights.