Toronto One Step Away of Victory After Rookie Phenom Dominates Dodgers in Game 5

Trey Yesavage delivered a performance for the ages and Davis Schneider homered on the very first pitch as the Blue Jays topped the Dodgers 6–1 on Wednesday, needing just one more triumph of their first championship since the 1993 season.

A Rookie's Record-Setting Night

The 22-year-old Yesavage, who debuted in the majors this past 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 began the year pitching before a few hundred fans in Class A ball, but has now been the winning pitcher in two of Toronto's three wins in this best-of-seven 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. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr added a second home run to a similar location. It marked the unprecedented occurrence in the World Series that back-to-back homers started a game, shocking the spectators before most had settled in.

The Pitcher's Dominance

Yesavage then assumed command. He struck out five consecutive batters between the second and third innings, setting a rookie record before Hernández ended the run with a solo shot in the third inning to make it two to one. That was the nearest the Dodgers came.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a misplay, and Clement delivered a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a 3–1 lead. The Dodgers’ offensive struggles deepened from there. After a six-run output in an 18-inning game, they’ve managed only four across the past 29 innings.

Seventh-Inning Rally

The starting pitcher battled through six and two-thirds innings but exited in the seventh after the bases were packed. The two inherited runners scored – via a wild pitch and the other on a run-scoring hit – to make it 5–1. A hit in the eighth provided the final margin.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage exited to a standing ovation from the Toronto faithful, and the pen closed it out. The bullpen arms each tossed a shutout frame to close it out, recording three strikeouts together while protecting the rookie's gem.

Dodgers' Lineup Shuffle Falters

The Dodgers, who shuffled their lineup in hopes of igniting the offense, again struggled to get going. Their key batter went 0-for-4 and is now riding an 0-for-7 skid since reaching base a World Series-record nine times in Game 3.

Looking Ahead to Game 6

Now up 3–2, Toronto go back to their own stadium with two chances to clinch. Game 6 is Friday night at Toronto's ballpark.

Anita Owens
Anita Owens

A forward-thinking entrepreneur and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup consulting.