Blue Jays One Step Away of Victory After Yesavage Dominates Dodgers in Fifth Match

Yesavage authored a masterclass on the mound and Schneider connected for a homer on the opening pitch as the Blue Jays topped the Los Angeles Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, standing one win away of their first World Series championship since 1993.

A Rookie's Record-Setting Night

The young Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, fanned a dozen batters without a single walk – the first pitcher in World Series history to do so. The rookie right-hander allowed one run on three hits across 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 best-of-seven series.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters jumped out to a fast lead. On the initial throw, Schneider turned on a 97mph fastball and homered to left field. Just moments later, 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, stunning the crowd before most had taken their places.

Yesavage Takes Control

Yesavage then went to work. He struck out five consecutive batters between the early frames, breaking a rookie pitching record before Hernández ended the run with a solo homer in the third inning to make it 2–1. That was the nearest the Dodgers came.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth, Daulton Varsho smacked a triple to right field after a misplay, and Ernie Clement lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the run for a three to one lead. The Dodgers’ offensive struggles deepened from there. After scoring six runs in Monday’s 18-inning marathon, they’ve scored a mere four times in nearly 30 innings.

Late Inning Insurance

The Dodgers starter 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 the other on a run-scoring hit – to push the lead to four runs. A eighth-inning base hit provided the concluding score.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage exited to a standing ovation from the Blue Jays supporters, and the bullpen did the rest. The late-inning pitchers each pitched an inning without allowing a run to end the game, combining for three strikeouts while preserving the rookie’s masterpiece.

Offensive Woes Continue

The Dodgers, who adjusted their lineup in hopes of igniting the offense, again struggled to get going. Their key batter went hitless in four at-bats and is now hitless in seven at-bats since a record-setting on-base performance in the third game.

Looking Ahead to Game 6

Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto head back to their home ballpark with two opportunities to win it all. The sixth game is set for Friday at their home field.

Todd Kelly
Todd Kelly

A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering online casinos and slot innovations across the UK.