Toronto On the Brink of Glory 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 beat the Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, moving within one victory of their first title since the 1993 season.

Yesavage's Historic Outing

The 22-year-old 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. His year commenced in the low minors with minimal fanfare, but has now earned two starting wins in the series in this seven-game set.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the game's opening offering, Schneider connected with a high-velocity fastball and drove it over the left-field wall. Immediately after, Vladimir Guerrero Jr followed with another blast to nearly the same spot. It marked the historic first for the Fall Classic that back-to-back homers started a game, leaving the audience in awe before most had taken their places.

Yesavage Takes Control

Yesavage then took over. He fanned five in a row between the early frames, establishing a new rookie mark before Hernández ended the run with a solo homer in the bottom of the third 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 plate the run for a three to one lead. The Dodgers' bats remained quiet from there. After managing six runs in a lengthy extra-inning contest, they’ve scored a mere four times in nearly 30 innings.

Late Inning Insurance

The Dodgers starter persisted for over six frames but couldn’t escape the seventh after the bases became full. The two inherited runners scored – thanks to a errant throw and the other on a run-scoring hit – to extend the lead to 5–1. A eighth-inning base hit provided the last run.

Bullpen Secures the Win

Yesavage exited to a standing ovation from the Blue Jays supporters, and the relievers finished the job. The relief corps 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 shuffled their lineup in search of a spark, again couldn't find momentum. Their top hitter went 0-for-4 and is now without a hit in his last seven appearances since reaching base a World Series-record nine times in the third game.

On the Verge of a Championship

Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto return home with two opportunities to win it all. The sixth game is set for Friday at Rogers Centre.

Mark Castro
Mark Castro

A seasoned entrepreneur and startup advisor with over a decade of experience in tech innovation and business growth.