Toronto One Step Away of Glory After Rookie Phenom Dominates Los Angeles in Fifth Match

Yesavage authored a masterclass on the mound and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers six to one on Wednesday evening, moving within one victory of their first World Series championship since the 1993 season.

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 first-year pitcher 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 earned two starting wins in the series in this best-of-seven series.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters jumped out to a fast lead. On the game's opening offering, Schneider turned on a 97mph fastball and drove it over the left-field wall. 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 consecutive home runs opened a game, shocking the spectators before most had found their seats.

Yesavage Takes Control

Yesavage then assumed command. He fanned five in a row between the early frames, breaking a rookie pitching record before Hernández ended the run with a home run in the third inning to make it two to one. That was the nearest the Dodgers came.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth inning, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a fielding error, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a 3–1 lead. The Dodgers' bats remained quiet from there. After managing six runs in a lengthy extra-inning contest, they’ve managed only four across the past 29 innings.

Late Inning Insurance

The Dodgers starter lasted into the seventh inning but was chased in the seventh after the bases became full. Both runners he left behind came around to score – one on a wild pitch and the other on a run-scoring hit – to make it 5–1. A single in the eighth provided the last run.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage exited to a standing ovation from the Blue Jays supporters, and the pen closed it out. The late-inning pitchers each worked a scoreless inning to close it out, fanning three batters collectively while preserving the rookie’s masterpiece.

Offensive Woes Continue

The Dodgers, who adjusted their lineup in an attempt to generate runs, again found little traction. Their key batter went 0-for-4 and is now without a hit in his last seven appearances since setting a World Series on-base record in the third game.

On the Verge of a Championship

Now up 3–2, Toronto return home with two games to secure the title. Friday evening features Game 6 at their home field.

Peter Hernandez
Peter Hernandez

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