Yesavage Shines as Blue Jays Move One Win from Title
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By Harry Kettle
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Summary:
- Toronto Blue Jays’ Rookie Trey Yesavage set a World Series record with 12 strikeouts and no walks in Game 5 against the LA Dodgers.
- Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit back-to-back homers to start the game.
- Toronto now leads the Dodgers 3–2 and can clinch the championship at home on Friday.
On Wednesday night, Trey Yesavage delivered a performance Toronto fans won’t forget anytime soon. The 22-year-old rookie struck out 12 batters, marking a new World Series record for a first-year player, as the Blue Jays took Game 5 over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-1.
The win carries Toronto just one victory away from its first World Series championship since 1993.
Historical Consecutive Homers to Open a Game
The tone was set early. Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit back-to-back home runs off Blake Snell’s first and third pitches, marking the first time in the history of the Series that consecutive homers opened a game.
From there, Yesavage completely shut down the Dodgers’ lineup, mixing a sharp slider, heavy splitter, and blazing fastball that kept hitters guessing all night. He didn’t walk a single batter.
“I’m kind of blown away by what he did,” said manager John Schneider after the game.
Yesavage gave up only three hits in seven innings, with his lone mistake being a high fastball that Kiké Hernández turned into a solo home run in the third. Beyond that, he was nearly untouchable.
Seranthony Domínguez and Jeff Hoffman handled the final two innings to finish off a four-hitter.
Trey Yesavage said,
When three of my pitches are in the strike zone, or even two, like part of tonight, I mean, I’m in control. Just stay in the strike zone and get ahead.
It’s been a whirlwind season for the rookie, who started the year in Class A ball before making his big-league debut in September. He’s now 3-1 in five postseason starts, showing a level of poise that impressed even his teammates.
Bichette: “The Stuff Is Incredible”
Obviously, the stuff is incredible, but the maturity to go and handle these moments is unbelievable. He comes here to work and try to help us win. I can’t say enough good things about his performance.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are reeling. Snell allowed five runs on six hits and four walks before being pulled in the seventh. Los Angeles has managed only four runs in its last 29 innings and hit just .202 in the Series.
Toronto can clinch the title at home on Friday when Kevin Gausman faces Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 6. The Jays have the momentum, and a rookie pitcher who just made MLB history.
