LOS ANGELES — Trey Yesavage etched his name in World Series history with a record-breaking performance, striking out 12 batters in a dominant 6-1 win for the Toronto Blue Jays over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Wednesday. The victory put Toronto one win away from its first World Series title since 1993.
Yesavage, who began his season pitching in front of just 327 fans in Class A, overwhelmed the Dodgers’ lineup with a mix of sharp splitters, sliders, and a powerful fastball. His 12 strikeouts, without issuing a single walk, set a new rookie World Series record, surpassing the previous mark of 11 set by Don Newcombe in 1949.
The Blue Jays wasted no time, starting Game 5 with back-to-back home runs. Davis Schneider launched the first pitch of the game into the left-field bleachers, followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s towering shot into the Dodgers’ bullpen. This marked the first time in World Series history that consecutive home runs opened a game.
Yesavage’s brilliance on the mound, allowing just three hits over seven innings, helped silence the Dodger offense. His only blemish came in the third inning when Kiké Hernández homered to cut Toronto’s lead to 2-1. But the Blue Jays responded quickly, adding insurance runs as the game progressed.
“I’m just trying to stay in the strike zone and control what I can,” said Yesavage, reflecting on his record-setting night.
Manager John Schneider was equally in awe of Yesavage’s poise. “I’m kind of blown away by what he did,” he said.
Despite the loss, the Dodgers’ offensive struggles continued. Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, took the loss after allowing five runs in 6 2/3 innings. Los Angeles’ lineup has been quiet throughout the Series, struggling to generate consistent offense and hitting just .202 as a team in the five games.
With the win, the Blue Jays take a 3-2 Series lead and can claim their first championship in over three decades when the Series resumes in Toronto on Friday. The Dodgers will look to stay alive behind RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while the Blue Jays counter with Kevin Gausman, who pitched in the Game 2 loss.
“We’ve got to find a way to win Game 6,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “It’s as simple as that.”
The stage is set for a thrilling showdown, with Toronto now just one win away from the ultimate prize in baseball.
