Toronto One Step Away of Victory After Rookie Phenom Tames Dodgers in Fifth Match
Trey Yesavage delivered a performance for the ages and Schneider connected for a homer on the opening pitch as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday evening, moving within one victory 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 – the first pitcher in World Series history to do so. The first-year pitcher allowed one run on three hits across seven innings. He started the season in Class A before sparse crowds, but has now started and won two of Toronto’s three victories in this seven-game set.
Early Offensive Explosion
Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the game's opening offering, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater 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, shocking the spectators before most had taken their places.
The Pitcher's Dominance
Yesavage then assumed command. He fanned five in a row between the early frames, establishing a new rookie mark before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a solo shot in the third inning to make it 2–1. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.
Building the Advantage
In the fourth inning, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a fielding error, and Ernie Clement hit a sac fly to score him for a 3–1 lead. The Los Angeles offense continued to sputter from there. After a six-run output in an 18-inning game, they’ve scored a mere four times in nearly 30 innings.
Seventh-Inning Rally
The starting pitcher battled through six and two-thirds innings but was chased in the seventh after the bases were packed. The two inherited runners scored – one on a wild pitch and one more on a base hit – to make it 5–1. A hit in the eighth provided the concluding score.
Bullpen Secures the Win
Yesavage exited to a standing ovation from the traveling fans, and the pen closed it out. The relief corps each pitched an inning without allowing a run to secure the victory, fanning three batters collectively while protecting the rookie's gem.
Offensive Woes Continue
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 Game 3.
Looking Ahead to Game 6
Now up 3–2, Toronto return home with two chances to clinch. Game 6 is Friday night at their home field.