Blue Jays’ Yesavage Sets Rookie Record with 12 K’s, Win Game 5

UPDATE: In a stunning performance, Trey Yesavage shattered the World Series rookie record with 12 strikeouts as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday night. This victory puts Toronto just one win away from securing its first championship since 1993.

The Blue Jays opened the game explosively, with back-to-back home runs from Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the first and third pitches thrown by Dodgers’ pitcher Blake Snell. This marks the first time in World Series history that consecutive homers have started a Series game.

Yesavage, a remarkable 22-year-old right-hander, began his season in April pitching before a mere 327 fans in Single-A. His ascent to this pivotal moment has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over seven innings, he allowed only three hits and one run, which came from a solo homer by Enrique Hernandez in the third inning.

In a display of dominance, Yesavage recorded six strikeouts each with his sinking splitter and spinning slider, becoming the first pitcher in World Series history to achieve 12 strikeouts without issuing a walk. He set a new postseason record with 23 swing-and-misses, surpassing the previous mark held by Tim Lincecum.

“Just need to get in the strike zone,” Yesavage told Fox after the game. “When three of my pitches are in the strike zone, I’m in control.”

The Blue Jays now head home to Rogers Centre for Game 6 on Friday night, where they have a chance to dethrone the defending champions. No team has won back-to-back titles since the New York Yankees did so from 1998 to 2000.

For the Dodgers, the night was fraught with challenges. Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, fell to 0-2 in the Series, allowing five runs and striking out four over 6 2/3 innings. Manager Dave Roberts attempted to shake up the struggling lineup, moving Mookie Betts to the third spot for the first time since 2021, yet the offense remained stagnant, hitting just .202 in the Series.

As the tension builds, Game 6 will see the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto face off against the Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman, in a rematch of Game 2, which Los Angeles won 5-1.

With the Blue Jays one step away from their long-awaited championship, the anticipation is palpable as fans eagerly await Friday’s showdown. This could be a historic moment for Toronto, and the world will be watching.