Dodgers

Blue Jays Dominate Dodgers in Game 5, Take Series Lead Behind Stellar Yesavage Performance

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Toronto Blue Jays seized a 3-2 series ⁣lead in the World Series with a commanding 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Wednesday night.A ⁢historic start,‍ fueled by back-to-back⁤ home runs,⁤ and a dominant pitching⁤ performance from rookie Bobby Yesavage propelled the Blue Jays to within one win ⁣of their first championship since 1993.

Toronto exploded in the first inning,​ with ⁤Davis Schneider launching a leadoff home run on the very first pitch from Dodgers starter Blake Snell. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed immediately with ​another ⁤home run,⁤ marking the first time in World ⁣Series history a team​ has opened a game with consecutive blasts. guerrero Jr.’s home run also ⁤tied the record for ⁣the second-moast postseason home runs in‌ MLB history,‍ with⁢ his eighth.

Yesavage, making a crucial start, delivered⁢ seven walkless​ innings, stifling the Dodgers’ offense. Blue Jays manager John Schneider ⁤lauded the rookie, stating, “Ancient stuff.⁣ His slider ⁢and split were electric. He was ​in the zone tonight, getting swing-and-misses.”

The Dodgers ‌managed ‍to get on the board in⁢ the third inning when Kike Hernandez hit a solo home run off Yesavage, briefly energizing the Dodger Stadium crowd. Though, Toronto⁤ quickly responded in the fourth. Daulton⁣ Varsho tripled on a line drive to right field – following a risky play by Teoscar Hernandez – and‍ scored on ‌Ernie ​Clement’s sacrifice fly, restoring a ⁤two-run lead.

Snell, despite⁢ the early damage,​ battled through seven innings, throwing 116‌ pitches ⁤- the third-most of his career – ⁤before exiting with runners on base. ​reliever ⁢Edgardo Henriquez inherited a jam and ultimately allowed a‍ run to score on a wild pitch, extending Toronto’s lead to 4-1.bo Bichette ‌then⁤ singled to right, bringing⁢ in another run and making it ​5-1.

Toronto added another run in the eighth inning, with Clement singling and scoring on a single ​by Isiah Kiner-Falefa,⁤ pushing the score to 6-1 and drawing boos from‌ the home crowd.

While Freddie⁢ Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez hit solo home runs ​in the​ ninth, the Dodgers’ ⁤late rally‍ proved insufficient.Shohei Ohtani fielded a runner at first base to end the eighth.

Dodgers‌ manager​ Dave Roberts ⁢acknowledged his team’s struggles.”Giving up the basics changes the lineup ⁣and affects⁤ the game going forward,” Roberts told reporters. “Blake⁤ pitched a⁣ really great game, but giving up bases and not converting outs⁢ came back to haunt us‍ tonight… right now, we’re in the elimination game, and we need to wipe the slate clean and find a ⁣way​ to win game six.” ⁢He added, “We’re ⁤not doing a good job. We have to⁢ make adjustments, come in fresh and compete. That’s all we can ​do.” Roberts also⁢ praised Yesavage,calling his performance‌ “very poise… No panic… very remarkable.”

Game 6 is scheduled for Toronto, with Kevin Gausman set to start for the Blue‌ Jays against Yoshinobu Yamamoto⁢ for the Dodgers – with Ohtani likely to be‍ used as a reliever.‌ A Blue Jays victory would secure their first World Series title in three⁤ decades. Schneider expressed confidence, saying, “Giving the ball to Kevin ⁤Gausman for Game 6 is awesome. It’s another ​tough match with Yamamoto, but ​it was a great team⁤ win.”