On October 29, 2025, the Toronto Blue Jays stunned the baseball world with a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 2025 World SeriesDodger Stadium, seizing a 3-2 series lead and moving one win away from their first championship since 1993. The game, which began at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, didn’t just start with a bang—it exploded. Davis Schneider, the 25-year-old utility player who entered the postseason hitting .188, launched a home run on the very first pitch thrown by Blake Snell. Three pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did the same. Back-to-back homers to open the game? In the World Series? No one had ever seen it before.
History Made in the First Three Pitches
It wasn’t just a great start—it was historic. The 2025 World SeriesDodger Stadium became the site of the 705th game in World Series history, and the first time a team hit back-to-back home runs on the first two pitches of Game 5. Sportsnet’s broadcast, timestamped at 0:00:163, captured the disbelief: “What in the world are we watching right now?” Schneider, who had gone 3-for-16 in the playoffs, hadn’t even hit a home run all postseason. Now he had one on the first pitch of the biggest game of his life. Guerrero Jr., the 26-year-old slugger who’s been the face of Toronto’s offense for years, didn’t flinch. He just swung again—and sent another pitch into the left-field seats.
Trey Yesavage: The Quiet Assassin
While the bats stole headlines, it was Trey Yesavage, the 24-year-old starting pitcher, who turned the game into a masterclass. He threw a complete game—nine innings, one run, four hits, nine strikeouts. No relief pitcher needed. Not a single inning was wasted. The Dodgers, who had scored 12 runs in Games 1 and 2, were held to a lone RBI single by Teoscar Hernández in the fifth. Yesavage didn’t just pitch well—he dominated. He mixed a 94-mph fastball with a devastating slider that left Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts swinging at air. By the seventh inning, the crowd at Dodger Stadium, which had been roaring for the defending champions, was eerily quiet.
The Dodgers’ Offense Vanished
The Dodgers’ lineup, one of the most feared in baseball, looked lost. Ohtani, the two-way superstar from Japan, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Freeman, the Canadian first baseman who carried LA in the NLCS, was held hitless. Even Will Smith, the steady catcher, couldn’t find a rhythm. The Blue Jays’ defense was sharp—Bo Bichette made a diving stop at shortstop in the third, and George Springer’s replacement, Schneider, robbed a potential extra-base hit in the sixth with a leaping catch at the wall. The Dodgers’ pitching staff, which had held Toronto to two runs in Game 4, collapsed under pressure. Three relievers entered after Snell’s early exit, and each gave up runs. Toronto added two in the fifth on a double by Matt Chapman and two more in the seventh on a two-run single by Rowdy Tellez.
Game 6: The Stage Shifts to Toronto
The series now heads to the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, where Game 6 is set for Friday, October 31, 2025. The Blue Jays haven’t won a World Series in 32 years. The Dodgers, who claimed the title in 2024, are now on the brink of becoming the first defending champion to lose the Series in five games since the 2001 Diamondbacks swept the Yankees. ESPN’s live analysis captured the tension: “The defending champs are on the ropes.” For Toronto, it’s not just about winning—it’s about legacy. Schneider, once a depth player, is now a folk hero. Yesavage, a rookie just two years ago, has become a postseason legend. And Guerrero Jr.? He’s playing like a man who knows he’s one game away from cementing his place among the greats.
What’s at Stake Beyond the Trophy
This isn’t just about a championship. It’s about momentum, identity, and history. The Blue Jays, long criticized for playoff failures, have silenced doubters with a combination of grit and explosive offense. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ bullpen, once their strength, has been exposed. The pressure on manager Dave Roberts is mounting. And for Toronto, a win in Game 6 wouldn’t just end a 32-year drought—it would redefine the franchise’s identity. Fans in Ontario are already planning rallies. Social media is flooded with #BlueJaysReady. The city hasn’t seen this kind of energy since 1993.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is it to hit back-to-back home runs on the first two pitches of a World Series game?
It has never happened before in World Series history. The 2025 Game 5 between the Blue Jays and Dodgers marked the first time any team hit home runs on the first two pitches of a World Series game. Only once before—back in 1974—had a team hit back-to-back homers on the first two pitches of *any* MLB game, and even that wasn’t in the Fall Classic. This moment is now permanently etched in MLB record books.
Why is Trey Yesavage’s performance so significant for the Blue Jays?
Yesavage became the first Blue Jays pitcher since Pat Hentgen in 1996 to throw a complete game in the World Series. More impressively, he did it on just 98 pitches, showing elite efficiency. He’s a rookie who wasn’t even in the rotation at the start of the season, and now he’s the man who shut down one of the most potent lineups in baseball. His performance gives Toronto confidence they can close out the series without overextending their bullpen.
What’s the historical context for the Blue Jays’ potential championship?
The Blue Jays last won the World Series in 1993, defeating the Phillies in six games. Since then, they’ve made the playoffs only six times, and never advanced past the ALCS until 2015. A win in Game 6 would make them the first Canadian team to win the World Series twice, and only the third team in MLB history to win consecutive championships after a 30+ year gap (joining the 1918 Red Sox and 2004 Red Sox). It would also be the first World Series title for a team outside the U.S. since the 2015 Royals.
Could the Dodgers still come back and win the series?
Technically, yes—but it’s extremely unlikely. No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series since the 2016 Cubs. The Dodgers are now facing elimination in Game 6, and their offense has been silenced in two of the last three games. Their starting pitching, led by Ohtani, is exhausted, and their bullpen has allowed 11 runs over the last two games. If they lose Game 6, they’ll be the first defending champion to lose the Series in five games since the 2001 Diamondbacks swept the Yankees.
What role did Davis Schneider play beyond his home run?
Schneider didn’t just hit a home run—he became the de facto leadoff hitter after George Springer’s injury. He played every position except pitcher and catcher in the postseason, and in Game 5, he made a critical defensive play in the sixth inning, robbing a potential extra-base hit with a leaping grab at the wall. His confidence and versatility have filled a massive void. Sportsnet compared him to Springer, saying he’s doing a “great impression,” and now he’s become the emotional spark the Blue Jays needed.
When is Game 6, and what’s the weather forecast for Rogers Centre?
Game 6 is scheduled for Friday, October 31, 2025, at 7:07 p.m. Eastern Time at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The forecast calls for clear skies and a high of 11°C (52°F), with a light breeze from the west—perfect conditions for baseball. The stadium is expected to be sold out, with over 50,000 fans in attendance. It’s likely to be the loudest game in Rogers Centre history.
