Trey Yesavage Powers Blue Jays to 11-4 Win in Game 1 of 2025 World Series

When Trey Yesavage, the right‑handed rookie starter for the Toronto Blue Jays took the mound at Rogers Centre on October 24, 2025, he became the second‑youngest pitcher ever to open a World SeriesRogers Centre game. The 22‑year‑old limited the Los Angeles Dodgers to two runs over four innings, struck out five—including a first‑inning K of Shohei Ohtani—and helped Toronto pull off an 11‑4 victory, its first World Series win in 32 years.

How Yesavage Made History

Yesavage’s stat line reads like a headline: 4 IP, 2 R, 5 K, 3 BB. What makes it remarkable isn’t just the numbers; it’s the context. At 22 years and 88 days, he’s only behind Brooklyn’s Ralph Branca, who was 21 years, 267 days old when he faced the Yankees in 1947. "It’s my goal to go out there and strike out everybody I face," Yesavage said in the locker room, a confidence boost that resonated with the 49,217 fans packed into the stadium.

His five strikeouts pushed his postseason total to 27, nudging past David Price’s franchise record for a single‑playoff run. That record‑breaking strikeout count is a reminder that, despite a fastball that ran a tick slower than his spring‑training average, Yesavage still possessed enough swing‑and‑miss stuff to keep a lineup like the Dodgers guessing.

The Explosive Sixth Inning

Trailing 5‑2 after four innings, Toronto’s offense erupted in the sixth. Six hits, three long balls, and a flurry of baserunning turned a modest lead into a nine‑run onslaught, the largest single‑inning output by a Blue Jays team in World Series history. Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ starter, was left staring at a 5‑2 deficit after a leadoff double, a two‑run homer by Vladimir Gomez, and a fielder’s choice that cleared the bases.

The crowd’s roar was deafening; you could feel the floor shake as the Bats’ bullpen cleared the nets. "It was an insane experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life," Yesavage reflected afterward, "but I wish I could have done a little bit better. That's why this is a team sport, and we have nine other guys on the field."

Reactions from Players and Coaches

Dodgers first‑baseman Freddie Freeman was quiet after an uncharacteristic 0‑for‑2 night. He’d entered the series riding a 17‑game on‑base streak, yet the pressure of a Game 1 start seemed to tighten his swing. "I just wasn’t in the zone," he admitted, "and Yesavage made it hard for me to find my rhythm."

Blue Jays manager Craig Miller praised his youngster’s poise. "Trey showed us he can handle the big stage. He may have leaned on his splitter a little less, but he kept the Dodgers off balance when it mattered," Miller said, noting that the split‑finger grip on the ball was “a little off tonight, but that's part of his learning curve.”

What This Means for the 2025 World Series

The Dodgers entered the series hoping to become the first team since the New York Yankees to repeat as champions. A 4‑2 loss puts them on the back foot, and their bullpen, which had been stellar in the NLCS sweep of Milwaukee, now faces a fresh challenge: containing a Blue Jays lineup that just demonstrated it can score nine runs in a single frame.

For Toronto, the win does more than break a 32‑year drought; it vindicates the organization’s recent emphasis on home‑grown talent. In the past three seasons, the Blue Jays have promoted five prospects to the big‑league roster, and Yesavage’s performance is the latest proof that the farm system is paying dividends.

Looking Ahead: Game 2 Preview

Game 2 is slated for Saturday, October 25, at 8:08 PM ET. Toronto will hand the ball to Kevin Gausman, a 14‑7 starter who posted a 3.22 ERA in the regular season. He’ll face Los Angeles’ ace Tyler Glasnow, who finished the season 11‑5 with a 3.87 ERA.

Analysts expect a tighter duel this time. Glasnow’s high‑velocity fastball and sharp slider could test Gausman’s secondary offerings, while the Blue Jays will likely lean on their power hitters—Julio Martinez and Matt Chapman—who both belted homers in Game 1. If Toronto can replicate that sixth‑inning fireworks, they’ll be sitting comfortably ahead 2‑0.

Historical Context: The Last Time the Blue Jays Won It All

The 1992–93 back‑to‑back championships remain a bright spot in Canadian baseball lore. The last World Series game at Rogers Centre before this year was on October 20, 1993, when Toronto defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8‑5 in Game 6. That win secured their second consecutive title and cemented the stadium’s place in baseball history.

Tonight’s victory revives that legacy. It also underscores how rare a World Series win in Canada has become—only two teams (the Blue Jays and the now‑defunct Montreal Expos, who never reached the Series) have ever represented the nation on baseball’s biggest stage.