The Blue Jays Advance Within One Win of Championship Glory
The Toronto sluggers shocked the Los Angeles crowd with consecutive home runs in the first inning, marking the initial occurrence this has occurred in a World Series contest.
A first-inning blitz and a commanding outing by rookie starting pitcher Trey Yesavage put the Toronto squad a single victory of their initial championship since the early nineties.
The lone Canadian MLB team defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 to give them a 3-2 lead in the seven-game World Series, which now returns to Toronto for its finale.
Right-hander Yesavage, who was only called up to the majors in the final month, threw a strong seven frames, with a dozen Ks—an unprecedented feat for a rookie—and only gave up a single score.
The game started in unbelievable style at Dodger Stadium as Davis Schneider launched the very first pitch of the night over the outfield for a homer, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr did the same off the second pitch he faced, leaving the Dodgers behind by two before many spectators had settled in.
While Enrique Hernandez cut the lead with a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning, the Blue Jays restored their two-run lead straight away as a teammate's sacrifice fly brought home Daulton Varsho.
It got even worse for the Dodgers in the top of the seventh as multiple wild pitches and a base on balls allowed Addison Barger to score, and Bo Bichette drove in Andres Gimenez to extend the lead to 5-1.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa's single added another run in the eighth inning as the home fans headed for the exits, on a night when even the L.A.'s star player Shohei Ohtani went without a hit for the second game in a row.
After a travel day, the series returns to Toronto on Friday for the sixth contest at the Toronto stadium, also the location for a potential decider on Saturday.
Championship Timeline, Reports & Results
- Game 1: Blue Jays 11-4 Dodgers
- Game 2: Blue Jays 1-5 Dodgers
- Game 3: Dodgers 6-5 Blue Jays
- Game 4: Dodgers 2-6 Blue Jays
- Game 5: Dodgers 1-6 Blue Jays
- Game 6 (in Toronto): Friday, 31 October
- Game 7* (if required, in Toronto): Saturday, 1 November
Games begin 20:00 Eastern Time (early next morning UK time), Home squad noted first
The rookie pitcher started the year in the lowest reaches and moved up through the farm system, earning a call-up to the majors in the fall.
Blake Snell has won the pitching honor in both leagues but allowed five runs on several hits in this outing.
NBA icon Magic Johnson threw out the ceremonial first pitch, but the first frame was a slam dunk for the Toronto as they hit homers on their initial swings.
