🔗 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 beat the Los Angeles Dodgers six to one on Wednesday evening, needing just one more triumph of their first World Series championship since the 1993 season.

A Rookie's Record-Setting Night

The young 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 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 championship series.

A Quick Start for Toronto

Toronto’s hitters gave him breathing room almost immediately. On the first pitch of the game, Schneider drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and drove it over the left-field wall. 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, leaving the audience in awe before most had settled in.

The Pitcher's Dominance

Yesavage then took over. He retired five straight via strikeout 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 bottom of the third to make it 2–1. That was as close as Los Angeles would get.

Building the Advantage

In the fourth, Varsho lined a triple into the right-field corner after a fielding error, and Ernie Clement hit a sac fly to score him for a 3–1 lead. The Los Angeles offense continued to sputter from there. After scoring six runs in Monday’s 18-inning marathon, they’ve managed only four across the past 29 innings.

Seventh-Inning Rally

The starting pitcher lasted into the seventh inning but exited in the seventh after the bases became full. Both runners he left behind came around to score – one on a wild pitch and one more on a base hit – to push the lead to four runs. A eighth-inning base hit provided the final margin.

Bullpen Secures the Win

Yesavage was cheered off the field from the Blue Jays supporters, and the pen closed it out. The relief corps each worked a scoreless inning to close it out, combining for three strikeouts 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 a record-setting on-base performance in the third game.

Looking Ahead to Game 6

Now holding a 3-2 lead, Toronto return home with two opportunities to win it all. Game 6 is Friday night at Toronto's ballpark.