Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani loses his helmet after striking out against Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage, left.David J. Phillip/The Associated Press
The Toronto Blue Jays are leaving Dodger Stadium with a 3-2 series lead over the reigning world champs, as Canada’s team is now just one win away from its first World Series title since 1993.
Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made Fall Classic history with back-to-back solo homers to open Wednesday’s Game 5, while Trey Yesavage struck out 12 in a momentous outing as the Jays clubbed the Dodgers 6-1.
The Jays stole two of three games during the trip to Dodger Stadium. Now the World Series leaves the City of Angels and returns to Toronto, where it will be decided as early as Friday night.
Yesavage threw seven innings in his first road postseason start, allowing three hits and one run, without walking anyone, while mixing his fastball, slider and splitter. His dozen strikeouts set a new single-game MLB record for a rookie pitcher in the World Series.
The 22-year-old starter with the rare over-the-top release struck out every member of the Dodgers starting lineup at least once. He punched out LA’s finest swinging and missing, from Shohei Ohtani to Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Mookie Betts.
Starter Trey Yesavage set a record for strikeouts by a rookie in the World Series with 12 as he led the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-1 victory and a 3-2 lead in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Canadian Press
“Hollywood couldn’t have made it this good,” said Yesavage, adding to his meteoric ascension this year through the minors to the World Series. “Being a part of this, I’m just very blessed.”
Yesavage oozed poise, like when he bobbled a ground ball hit to the mound, but calmly scooped it and creatively shoveled the ball to Guerrero at first base like a pro quarterback.
“Historic stuff. When you talk about that stage and his numbers, getting ahead of a lot of hitters, tons of swing-and-miss,” said Jays manager John Schneider. “Kind of blown away at what he did.”
When the Japanese superstar Ohtani did get his bat on a Yesavage slider, Jays right fielder Addison Barger nabbed it with a diving catch.
Addison Barger makes a diving catch on a line drive by Shohei Ohtani in Game 5 on Wednesday.Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The Blue Jays led all night, starting with a shocking few minutes in their first two at-bats.
Schneider and Guerrero each crushed homeruns off lefty Blake Snell, both sending fastballs sailing over the left field wall. It was the first time in World Series history that teammates have crushed back-to-back blasts to begin a game.
Just three pitches into the contest, Toronto already had a 2-0 lead, and a ‘Lets go Blue Jays’ chant pierced the silence inside Dodger Stadium.
“George kind of always preaches you always be ready for the fastball first pitch leading off the game,” said Schneider, who was batting leadoff in place of the injured designated hitter George Springer. “George has done it for numerous years, and I got to take some advice when I can get it.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits a home run in the first inning of Game 5 on Wednesday.Harry How/Getty Images
The single Los Angeles run came from an Enrique Hernández homer which briefly woke a sellout crowd of 52, 175 that included celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio and Charlize Theron. But that momentum was short-lived.
Daulton Varsho scored Toronto’s third run, as he tripled in the fourth inning and then came home thanks to an Ernie Clement sacrifice fly.
Snell lasted 6 2/3 innings for the Dodgers, allowing six hits, three runs, and four walks against seven strikeouts.
Toronto added more runs after Snell left. Addison Barger scored on a wild pitch, and Andrés Giménez on an RBI single from Bo Bichette.
Yesavage celebrates after a double play to end the seventh inning.Luke Hales/Getty Images
Every man in the Blue Jays starting lineup reached base in Wednesday’s game. As a team, Toronto had nine hits.
Seranthony Dominguez was the first out of the Jays’ bullpen, then Jeff Hoffman came in to close out the last game of the season at Dodger Stadium. Now Toronto hosts Game 6 on Friday, and if needed Game 7 on Saturday.
Kevin Gausman will start Game 6 for Toronto on Halloween night. The Dodgers will counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a rematch of the pitching duel from Game 2, when the Japanese ace took the night with a dazzling nine-inning outing.