LOS ANGELES (WBTV) – A baseball player from a North Carolina college made history in the World Series on Wednesday night.
Trey Yesavage — who starred at East Carolina University — recorded 12 strikeouts in the Toronto Blue Jay’s 6-1 Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 29.
Wednesday’s game was just the eighth major league game of Yesavage’s career, including both regular and postseason. His 12 strikeouts were the most ever for a rookie in a World Series game. The previous record was 11, set by Don Newcombe all the way back in 1949.
The 22-year-old pitcher went seven innings in Game 5, and surrendered just three hits and only one run. He did not walk a batter.
After the game, Yesavage said it was his belief in himself, his teammates and God that made his historic performance possible.
“Coming into this game, it was all about getting ahead, getting into my counts and throwing what I wanted in two-strike counts,” Yesavage told MLB Network Wednesday night.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider called Yesavage “pretty good,” with a chuckle, during his postgame press conference Wednesday.
“Historic stuff … when you talk about his age and his numbers,” Schneider said. “It’s one thing to be in the [strike] zone, and it’s another thing to be in the zone and get some swing and misses. So, slider and split were electric. I said it before the game, it’s a different pitcher when he has his stuff.”
Former ECU star pitcher Trey Yesavage made World Series history with the Toronto Blue Jays on Oct. 29.(AP photos)
Yesavage’s stellar showing pushed Toronto to within one game of its first World Series title since 1993. The Blue Jays hold a 3-2 series lead over the Dodgers with Game 6 set for Friday in Toronto. If the series goes to a Game 7, that too would be played in Toronto.
Yesavage — who is originally from Pennsylvania — was a key part of an ECU team that was a regional host in the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.
During his three years with the Pirates, Yesavage threw nearly 200 innings across 65 games, and posted a 2.58 ERA.
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