Blue Jays Take 3-2 Lead as Rookie Yesavage Shines in Game 5, Dodgers Force Game 7
Nov, 1 2025
On a crisp October evening at Dodger Stadium, the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t just win Game 5 of the 2025 World Series—they rewrote history. Down 2-1 in the series, Toronto exploded for six runs against Los Angeles Dodgers starter Blake Snell, thanks to the most electric start any World Series game has ever seen. Designated hitter Davis Schneider launched the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall. Three pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did the same. Back-to-back home runs to open a World Series game? Never happened before. Not in 120 years of Fall Classics. And yet, there it was—on October 29, 2025, in front of 52,175 stunned fans.
A Rookie’s Moment of Magic
But the real story wasn’t just the bats. It was the arm of 22-year-old Trey Yesavage, a rookie who’d made his MLB debut just 46 days earlier. Throwing from the mound at Dodger Stadium, he looked like a veteran who’d been here a dozen times. Seven innings. Three hits. One run. Twelve strikeouts. A World Series record for rookies. He didn’t walk a single batter. He didn’t flinch.
"Soaked in Dodger Stadium, filled with 52,175 fans about to watch him pitch in the World Series," Yesavage said afterward, his voice still tinged with disbelief. "I thought back to starting my season in front of 327 spectators in the low minors. A sandlot story worthy of a movie studio back lot. Crazy world. Hollywood couldn’t have made it this good."
It wasn’t just the strikeouts. It was the poise. When Will Smith of the Dodgers booted a wild pitch in the second inning—allowing Alejandro Kirk to advance to second—Yesavage didn’t lose focus. He struck out the next two batters on sliders that danced just off the plate.
The Dodgers’ Glimmer of Hope
Los Angeles managed just one run through eight innings. Their offense, which had been so lethal in the first four games, looked like it had forgotten how to hit. The commentary team said it best: "Feels like they’re 50 runs behind."
Then, in the ninth, Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman came in with two outs. Facing former Blue Jay Teoscar Hernández, he got him to ground out to second. The crowd erupted. Toronto led 6-1. The Blue Jays were one win away from their first championship since 1993.
The Twist: Game 6 in Toronto
But baseball doesn’t hand out titles easily. Two days later, on October 31, 2025, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, the Dodgers answered. Enrique Hernández—Kiké to fans—made a play no one had ever seen in postseason history. In the bottom of the ninth, with Toronto down 3-1 and Andrés Giménez at the plate, he lined a shot into the lights in left field. The ball disappeared. The crowd held its breath. Hernández, blinded by the stadium’s glare, chased it like a man chasing a dream. He caught it, spun, and fired to second base. Max Scherzer, the veteran pitcher who had been pinch-running, was caught in a rundown. The double play ended the game. Game 6: Dodgers 3, Blue Jays 1.
"The crazy thing is I had no idea where the ball was," Hernández said after the game. "It was in the lights the whole time. I just dove."
Game 7: A Night That Will Echo
Now, the series heads to a decisive Game 7 on Saturday, November 1, 2025—marking only the 10th time in history the World Series extends into November. Max Scherzer, 39, will take the mound for Toronto. He’s pitched through pain, through age, through doubt. He’s the man they trust. For Los Angeles, the choice is between two giants: two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, who’s already thrown and hit in this series, or right-hander Tyler Glasnow, whose fastball has been unhittable in high-leverage moments.
It’s not just about who pitches. It’s about legacy. For Toronto, it’s a 32-year wait since Joe Carter’s iconic homer in 1993. For Los Angeles, it’s a franchise that’s come close so many times—2017, 2018, 2020—and still hasn’t won since 1988. This isn’t just a game. It’s a reckoning.
Why This Matters
Trey Yesavage’s rise—from Triple-A to World Series starter in six weeks—isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a sign of how baseball is changing. Teams are trusting young arms earlier, betting on raw talent over polish. The Blue Jays’ front office, headquartered at 1 Blue Jays Way in Toronto, has built a roster that blends youth and experience in a way few franchises have managed. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, with their $300 million payroll and deep pockets, are being tested by a team that doesn’t have their resources but has more heart.
The fact that the series is still alive after Game 6—after Toronto’s historic lead—shows how fragile momentum is in baseball. One play. One pitch. One moment of brilliance from a guy who didn’t even have a guaranteed roster spot two months ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is a rookie pitching 12 strikeouts in a World Series game?
Trey Yesavage’s 12 strikeouts in Game 5 set a new record for rookies in World Series history. The previous high was 11, set by Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. No rookie had ever thrown seven innings with no walks and just one run allowed in a World Series game. Yesavage’s performance ranks among the top three pitching outings by any rookie in postseason history.
What’s the significance of back-to-back home runs to open a World Series game?
Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s consecutive home runs on the first two pitches of Game 5 were the first in World Series history. Even in the 1920s, when home runs were rarer, no team had ever done it. The previous best was a leadoff homer followed by a single or double. This set the tone for Toronto’s offense and rattled Blake Snell, who hadn’t allowed two home runs in his first three pitches all season.
Why is Game 7 being played in November?
The 2025 World Series is the 10th in MLB history to extend into November, breaking the previous record of nine. This is due to rain delays in Games 2 and 4, plus a day off after Game 5. The last time the Series ended in November was 2020, during the pandemic-shortened season. Now, it’s becoming more common as schedules grow tighter and weather in late October becomes unpredictable.
What makes Enrique Hernández’s game-ending double play historic?
It was the first time in postseason history that a left fielder turned a game-ending double play by throwing to second base. The ball was hit into the lights, forcing Hernández to chase blindly. He caught it, spun, and fired to second, catching Max Scherzer in a rundown. The play required perfect timing, vision, and arm strength—and it ended a potential rally that could’ve tied the game.
Who are the likely pitchers for Game 7?
Toronto will start Max Scherzer, a veteran who’s won two Cy Young Awards and pitched in five World Series. For Los Angeles, the choice is between Shohei Ohtani, who’s already pitched 6.1 innings and hit .320 in the series, or Tyler Glasnow, whose 98-mph fastball has been dominant in relief. Ohtani is the favorite, but the Dodgers may save him for a potential Game 7 if he pitches in Game 6.
Has any team won the World Series after being down 3-2?
Yes. Of the 34 teams that trailed 3-2 in a best-of-seven World Series, 17 won Game 6 to force a Game 7—and 10 of those went on to win the title. The most recent was the 2016 Chicago Cubs, who beat the Cleveland Indians after being down 3-1. Toronto hasn’t won since 1993. The pressure is immense—but history says it’s possible.