Blue Jays One Step Away of Glory After Rookie Phenom Tames Dodgers in Game 5

Yesavage authored a masterclass on the mound and Davis Schneider launched a home run on the game's initial offering as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers six to one on Wednesday, standing one win away of their first title since 1993.

Yesavage's Historic Outing

The 22-year-old Yesavage, who debuted in the majors this past September, fanned a dozen batters without a single walk – setting a new World Series record. 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 started and won two of Toronto’s three victories in this best-of-seven series.

Early Offensive Explosion

Toronto’s hitters provided early support. On the initial throw, Schneider connected with a high-velocity fastball and drove it over the left-field wall. Just moments later, 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, stunning the crowd before most had settled in.

The Pitcher's Dominance

Yesavage then took over. He fanned five in a row between the second and third innings, breaking a rookie pitching record before Hernández ended the run with a home run in the third inning to make it 2–1. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth, Daulton Varsho smacked a triple to right field after a defensive mistake, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to score him for a 3–1 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 starting pitcher battled through six and two-thirds innings but was chased in the seventh after the bases were packed. The runners he allowed both crossed the plate – one on a wild pitch and another on an RBI single – to extend the lead to 5–1. A eighth-inning base hit provided the last run.

Bullpen Secures the Win

Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Blue Jays supporters, and the pen closed it out. The bullpen arms each tossed a shutout frame to secure the victory, combining for three strikeouts while maintaining the stellar start.

Offensive Woes Continue

The Dodgers, who rearranged their batting order in search of a spark, again found little traction. Their top hitter went without a hit in four trips and is now riding an 0-for-7 skid since reaching base a World Series-record nine times in Game 3.

On the Verge of a Championship

Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto go back to their own stadium with two chances to clinch. The sixth game is set for Friday at Rogers Centre.