🔗 Share this article

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 6–1 on Wednesday, moving within one victory of their first World Series championship since 1993.

A Rookie's Record-Setting Night

The 22-year-old Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, recorded 12 strikeouts and zero walks – achieving a historic World Series first. The rookie right-hander surrendered just one run on three hits over seven frames. 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 jumped out to a fast lead. On the game's opening offering, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and drove it over the left-field wall. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr added a second home run to almost the exact same place. It marked the unprecedented occurrence in the World Series that consecutive home runs opened a game, leaving the audience in awe before most had settled in.

The Pitcher's Dominance

Yesavage then assumed command. He fanned five in a row between the second and third innings, establishing a new rookie mark before the streak was snapped by Kiké Hernández with a solo homer in the third inning to make it two to one. That was the Dodgers' closest approach.

Building the Advantage

In the fourth inning, Daulton Varsho tripled down the right-field line after a fielding error, and Ernie Clement lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a three to one lead. The Dodgers’ offensive struggles deepened from there. After managing six runs in a lengthy extra-inning contest, they’ve scored a mere four times in nearly 30 innings.

Seventh-Inning Rally

The starting pitcher persisted for over six frames but couldn’t escape the seventh after the Blue Jays loaded the bases. Both runners he left behind came around to score – via a wild pitch and one more on a base hit – to push the lead to four runs. A hit in the eighth provided the final margin.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage exited to a standing ovation from the traveling fans, and the pen closed it out. The late-inning pitchers each pitched an inning without allowing a run to secure the victory, combining for three strikeouts while maintaining the stellar start.

Offensive Woes Continue

The Dodgers, who adjusted their lineup in an attempt to generate runs, again found little traction. Their top hitter went without a hit in four trips and is now hitless in seven at-bats since setting a World Series on-base record in the third game.

Looking Ahead to Game 6

Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto go back to their own stadium with two chances to clinch. Game 6 is Friday night at their home field.