UPDATE: In a stunning performance, Trey Yesavage recorded a World Series rookie record with 12 strikeouts, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a commanding 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Wednesday night. This win places Toronto just one victory away from clinching its first championship since 1993.
The Blue Jays erupted early, with Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launching back-to-back homers off Blake Snell on the first and third pitches of the game. This marks the first time in World Series history that consecutive home runs have started a game.
Yesavage, a remarkable 22-year-old right-hander, demonstrated his prowess by stifling the Dodgers’ offense, allowing only three hits in seven innings. His performance broke the previous rookie record of 11 strikeouts set by Don Newcombe in 1949. The game took place in front of a packed crowd of 52,175 at Dodger Stadium.
With a blend of a sinking splitter, a spinning slider, and an overpowering fastball, Yesavage became the first Series pitcher to achieve 12 strikeouts without issuing a walk. “Just need to get in the strike zone,” he stated in a post-game interview. “When three of my pitches are in the strike zone… I’m in control.”
The only run Yesavage allowed came from a home run by Enrique Hernandez in the third inning, narrowing the Dodgers’ deficit to 2-1. His dominance continued as he induced 23 swing-and-misses, the highest in a Series game since pitch tracking began in 2008.
The Blue Jays will now have the opportunity to dethrone the defending champions when the Series resumes on Friday night at Rogers Centre. No team has won consecutive titles since the New York Yankees achieved three in a row from 1998 to 2000.
In stark contrast, the Dodgers’ lineup struggled, with their top four hitters—Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman—combining for a dismal 1-for-15 and eight strikeouts. Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, fell to 0-2 in the Series, giving up five runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Despite manager Dave Roberts shaking up the lineup by moving Betts down to third for the first time since 2021, the Dodgers could not ignite their offense, batting just .202 in the Series. They have scored only four runs in their last 29 innings and threw a World Series record of four wild pitches in just two innings.
As the Blue Jays look to capitalize on this momentum, Game 6 will feature a rematch between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Kevin Gausman, who previously faced off in Game 2, which the Dodgers won 5-1.
Toronto is poised for a historic moment, and the sports world is watching closely. Stay tuned for further updates as this thrilling Series unfolds.