Toronto Blue Jays beat L.A. Dodgers 6-1 in Game 5 of World Series

The Toronto Blue Jays are one game away from clinching the World Series.

After tying the series 2-2 in Game 4 in Los Angeles Tuesday night, the Jays sealed the deal in Game 5 beating the L.A. Dodgers 5-1.

It was an early lead for the Jays, Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit two solo homes runs taking the Jays to 2-0 early in the first inning. It’s the first time in World Series history that a team has opened a game with back-to-back homers.

The Dodgers answered back with a run by Enrique Hernández, entering the fifth inning with the Jays up 3-1.

In the seventh, Addison Barger slid home to increase the Jays lead to 4-1, with Andrés Giménez adding a run to end the inning 5-1. Ernie Clement brought another home thanks to an Isiah Kiner-Falefa RBI single, ending the eighth 6-1.

The ninth was uneventful, securing the Jays possibility of one game at home to win it all.

Rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage is writing himself into the record books with his performance on the mound, striking out 12 Dodgers in this game.

Read more:

Road to the World Series

The Blue Jays, who finished first in the American League, have secured home-field advantage for a crucial Game 6 in Toronto Friday.

Yesavage started on the mound in Game 5. The 22-year-old pitched four innings in Toronto’s 11-4 Game 1 win, giving up two runs on four hits with three walks. His 11 strikeouts in a single game was a Blue Jays franchise record for a postseason debut. On average, he has pitched 27 strikeouts in 19 innings.

He was up against Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell, who was beaten up by Toronto in the same game at Rogers Centre, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings. For the season, the 32-year-old Seattle native posted a 5-4 record with a 2.35 ERA and 1.255 WHIP over 11 starts.

Guerrero Jr. now ranks first or tied for first in postseason hits, extra-base hits, walks, and home runs for the Blue Jays. It was his seventh career playoff home run, breaking a tie with Joe Carter and Jose Bautista for the franchise record.

The batting order for the Jays was left fielder Schneider, first baseman Guerrero Jr., designated hitter Bo Bichette, catcher Alejandro Kirk, centre fielder Daulton Varsho, right fielder Clement, third baseman Barger, short stop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and second baseman Giménez.

All World Series games are broadcast live on 980CJME and 650 CKOM at 6 p.m.

— with files from The Canadian Press