🔗 Share this article

Trey Yesavage delivered a performance for the ages and Schneider connected for a homer on the opening pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Dodgers six to one on Wednesday, needing just one more triumph of their first title since 1993.

A Rookie's Record-Setting Night

The young Yesavage, who made his major league debut in September, fanned a dozen batters without a single walk – setting a new World Series record. The first-year pitcher gave up only a single run on three hits in seven innings. He started the season in Class A before sparse crowds, 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 drilled a 97-mile-per-hour heater and homered to left field. Immediately after, Vladimir Guerrero Jr added a second home run to a similar location. It marked the first time in World Series history that the game began with two straight homers, shocking the spectators before most had found their seats.

The Pitcher's Dominance

Yesavage then went to work. He fanned five in a row between the early frames, breaking a rookie pitching record before Kiké Hernández finally broke the streak with a home run in the bottom of the third to make it 2–1. That was as close as Los Angeles would get.

Extending the Lead

In the fourth, Daulton Varsho smacked a triple to right field after a fielding error, and Ernie Clement hit a sac fly to bring him home for a 3–1 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.

Late Inning Insurance

The starting pitcher battled through six and two-thirds innings but exited in the seventh after the Blue Jays loaded the bases. Both runners he left behind came around to score – via a wild pitch and another on an RBI single – to extend the lead to 5–1. A single in the eighth provided the final margin.

Relievers Seal the Deal

Yesavage was cheered off the field from the traveling fans, and the bullpen did the rest. The late-inning pitchers each pitched an inning without allowing a run to end the game, recording three strikeouts together while maintaining the stellar start.

Offensive Woes Continue

The Dodgers, who adjusted their lineup in hopes of igniting the offense, again found little traction. Their top hitter went without a hit in four trips and is now hitless in seven at-bats since a record-setting on-base performance in the third game.

On the Verge of a Championship

Now up 3–2, Toronto head back to their home ballpark with two games to secure the title. Friday evening features Game 6 at Rogers Centre.