Blue Jays On the Brink of Victory After Rookie Phenom Dominates Dodgers in Game 5

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, standing one win away of their first World Series championship since the 1993 season.

A Rookie's Record-Setting Night

The 22-year-old Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, struck out 12 without issuing a walk – setting a new World Series record. The rookie right-hander surrendered just one run on three hits over seven frames. He started the season in Class A before sparse crowds, but has now been the winning pitcher in two of Toronto's three wins in this championship series.

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 homered to left field. Just moments later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr followed with another blast to a similar location. It marked the historic first for the Fall Classic that the game began with two straight homers, stunning the crowd before most had taken their places.

The Pitcher's Dominance

Yesavage then went to work. He retired five straight via strikeout between the second and third innings, setting a rookie record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a solo homer in the bottom of the third 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 fielding error, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to plate the run for a 3–1 lead. The Dodgers' bats remained quiet 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 Dodgers starter battled through six and two-thirds innings but couldn’t escape the seventh after the bases became full. The runners he allowed both crossed the plate – via a wild pitch and one more on a base hit – to make it 5–1. A single in the eighth provided the concluding score.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage received a standing ovation upon leaving from the Blue Jays supporters, and the bullpen did the rest. The bullpen arms each tossed a shutout frame to end the game, recording three strikeouts together while preserving the rookie’s masterpiece.

Offensive Woes Continue

The Dodgers, who adjusted their lineup in an attempt to generate runs, again struggled to get going. Their key batter went without a hit in four trips and is now hitless in seven at-bats since setting a World Series on-base record in Game 3.

On the Verge of a Championship

Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto head back to their home ballpark with two games to secure the title. Friday evening features Game 6 at Toronto's ballpark.

Teresa Schultz
Teresa Schultz

Seasoned gaming expert with a passion for reviewing online casinos and sharing winning strategies.