In the NLCS, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw the MLB postseason’s first complete game in eight years. On Saturday within the World Series, he threw the MLB postseason’s first complete game in 11 days.
Behind one other dominant efficiency from their finest pitcher this season, the Dodgers shook off a one-sided Game 1 with a 5-1 win in Game 2 to tie the series 1-1 as it heads to Los Angeles. Game 3 begins at 8 p.m. ET Monday at Dodger Stadium.
Game 2 noticed the 2 groups ship their finest pitchers of the common season to the mound, they usually each lived as much as the billing. Yamamoto and Kevin Gausman went blow-for-blow, each shaking off an early run with a double-digit streak of retired batters.
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It was Gausman who blinked first. After placing down 17 consecutive batters, Will Smith hit a ball 404 toes to the second deck to interrupt the 1-1 tie.
Max Muncy adopted two batters later with one other homer, and that was it for Gausman. The Dodgers added one other two runs within the eighth inning in opposition to the Blue Jays’ bullpen.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto simply saved dealing.
A Blue Jays offense that has stomped pitcher after pitcher this postseason could not determine his six-pitch combine, and Yamamoto dominated increasingly more as the game went on. After permitting his solely run within the third inning, he put down 20 straight batters to complete the game.
His closing line: 9 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks and eight strikeouts on 105 pitches. It was ace stuff, from an ace. It was why the Dodgers gave him $325 million earlier than his first MLB pitch — as a result of they and most different groups knew simply how good his stuff was.
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It was the primary complete game within the World Series since Johnny Cueto threw one for the Kansas City Royals in 2015, and it was the primary time a pitcher threw back-to-back complete video games since Curt Schilling did it in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Behind the plate for the entire thing was Smith, who drove in runs on two of his plate appearances, along with the homer. In different phrases, Los Angeles’ battery singlehandedly received this game.
Dodgers seize momentum as World Series heads to Los Angeles
This was all the time the plan for the Dodgers: an offense that led the National League in homers this season mixed with an all-time beginning pitcher run to cover a suspect bullpen. It shall be as much as Tyler Glasnow to maintain that moving into Game 3, whereas former Dodger Max Scherzer takes the mound for the Blue Jays.
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As for Toronto, the good vibes from Game 1 at the moment are briefly provide. Its offense did its factor in opposition to Blake Snell and a few members of the Dodgers’ bullpen on Friday, however now the Jays head to Chavez Ravine for 3 straight video games wherein they’ll face Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Snell once more — and Snell is the sort of pitcher who can go from struggling to dominating on the flip of a change.
Scherzer obtained the job accomplished in Game 4 of the ALCS in opposition to the Seattle Mariners, however this Dodgers offense is a really totally different animal. We’ll see what occurs Monday.
Follow together with Yahoo Sports for stay updates, highlights and extra from Game 2 of the 2025 World Series:
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Varsho pops out to Muncy, and that is it for Game 2.
Another complete game masterpiece from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who allowed only one run, with zero walks and eight strikeouts on 105 pitches.
There shall be a Game 5 on this World Series. Game 3 is Monday in L.A.
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Kirk hit one 101 mph to Justin Dean in heart, and he made a pleasant play to seize out No. 2.
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Vlad grounds out to Freeman at first, and that is one down.
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Yamamoto goes for his second straight complete game on this postseason after a gem in opposition to the Brewers within the NLCS.
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Braydon Fisher will get three fast outs, and the highest of the ninth is over.
The Blue Jays are all the way down to their closing three probabilities. Guerrero, Kirk and Varsho are due up.
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Muncy leads off with a stroll, marking his second time on base tonight, and the Dodgers have a ninth-inning baserunner.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
Yoshinobu Yamamoto strikes out the aspect within the eighth, and the Dodgers are three outs from placing this away. He’s at 93 pitches, and it’s a must to think about he is allowed to complete this except Toronto will get a number of baserunners within the ninth.
This is ace stuff, from an ace.
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Jack Baer
It actually regarded like Andres Gimenez had the out at residence, however he determined to attempt to finish the inning as an alternative.
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Jack Baer
Teoscar Hernández continues a tough evening with a strikeout to finish the inning. Time for the Blue Jays’ offense to get up in opposition to Yamamoto or head to L.A. with the series tied.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
Will Smith hits a possible double-play ball and Andres Gimenez chooses to go for second moderately than attempt to get the runner at residence. Toronto will get the out at second, however Smith beats the ball to first. The Dodgers now have a four-run lead for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to guard.
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Jack Baer
Freeman takes one other ball, and the Jays deliberately stroll him. Will Smith comes up with the bases loaded, nonetheless one out.
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Jack Baer
Jeff Hoffman’s first pitch to Freddie Freeman is a slider within the dust, which will get previous Alejandro Kirk for an additional Dodgers run. It regarded like that ball hit Freeman’s foot too, however he does not argue it.
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Jack Baer
And now Mookie Betts attracts a stroll to load the bases with one out. That’ll do it for Louis Varland, as Toronto brings in prime reliever Jeff Hoffman to stop Freddie Freeman from increasing this lead.
You would possibly recall Freeman recording an enormous hit with the bases loaded on this date final 12 months.
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Jack Baer
And then Pages almost wipes out that hit. Shohei Ohtani hit a damaged bat single to proper discipline, and Pages was third base earlier than getting the cease signal. He was gradual to return to second and almost obtained caught by a laser from Addison Barger.
The Blue Jays problem the decision, nevertheless it’s confirmed. Still, a close to catastrophe for a participant who entered this game as a strolling catastrophe on offense.
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Jack Baer
Andy Pages has a base hit! A single on a grounder up the center improves him to 4-for-42 this postseason.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
Yoshinobu Yamamoto places down his 14th batter in a row to finish the seventh inning. He’s at 79 pitches after one other environment friendly body.
Hypothetical: You’re Dave Roberts. You have a two-run lead going into the ninth inning. How many pitches does Yamamoto have to have thrown so that you can severely take into account placing Roki Sasaki in?
