HITS AREN'T COMING

Jays' Yesavage sends Dodgers' anemic offense into a tailspin

- BY JACK HARRIS

Photographs by ROBERT GAUTHIER Los Angeles Times

DODGERS infielders Mookie Betts, left, Max Muncy, Tommy Edman and Freddie Freeman wait during a pitching change in the ill-fated seventh inning of Game 5.

Dodger Stadium wasn't so much cheering in the seventh inning Wednesday night as it was pleading with its team's maddening offense.

All month, the club's lineup has looked off. All night in Game 5 of the World Series, it had been shut down by Toronto Blue Jays rookie phenom Trey Yesavage.

But, now, in the bottom of the seventh inning, one last moment of hope arose.

Teoscar Hernández hit an infield single. The Dodgers, down four runs, had a chance to chip away. As Tommy Edman came to the plate, a capacity crowd in Chavez Ravine rose to its feet in desperate anticipation.

Seven pitches and one inningending double-play later, they would be quiet again — and, this time, for good.

In a 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays that gave Toronto a 3-2 lead in the series, the Dodgers showed a deflating, disconnected and yet all too familiar identity at the plate.

They struck out 12 times over seven dazzling innings from Yesavage. They looked passive, uncertain and unable to adjust to his admittedly wicked three-pitch repertoire.

It was all the worst traits the Dodgers had flashed at times during their up-and-down regular season, once again rearing their ugly head at precisely the wrong time.

"Right now, we're at elimination," manager Dave Roberts said. "We've got to kind of wipe the slate clean."

Earlier this October, it appeared the Dodgers had.