World Series Game 2: Dodgers Take Control with Yamamoto’s Masterful Performance
TORONTO — The Blue Jays’ batting lineup, often a challenging opponent, was surprisingly subdued in Game 2 of the World Series, largely thanks to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s exceptional pitching. The series is now tied at 1-1 as it shifts to Los Angeles.
The day after the Blue Jays showcased their hitting against Blake Snell and the Dodgers’ bullpen, Yamamoto delivered a stellar performance, refusing to let his relief pitchers even warm up.
Yamamoto achieved an impressive feat by retiring 20 consecutive batters, leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Center. This marked his second straight complete game win in MLB postseason history.
Facing a team that scored 11 runs with 14 hits just a game prior, Yamamoto threw 105 pitches, yielding only four hits while striking out eight and issuing no walks—effectively shutting out the Blue Jays.
His achievement makes him the first pitcher since Curt Schilling in 2001 to pitch consecutive complete games in the postseason.
The Dodgers’ offense was also pivotal, with Will Smith and Max Muncy stepping up when it mattered most.
After Kevin Gausman had a stretch of 17 consecutive batters retired, Smith launched a 404-foot home run in the seventh inning, breaking a 1-1 tie. Gausman pitched a fastball that Smith handled perfectly, marking his first postseason homer and quieting the home crowd.
Shortly after, Muncy matched Smith’s effort with his own home run, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. Another fastball from Gausman, this time a 96 mph pitch, found its way to Muncy, who sent it deep into the Blue Jays’ bullpen.
With these crucial runs, Yamamoto received all the backing he needed and continued to grow stronger as the game went on.
Adding to their lead, the Dodgers scored two more runs in the eighth inning. Yamamoto responded with a strikeout, silencing a team that had struggled at the plate.
The 27-year-old right-hander, who opted for a lucrative 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers instead of the Yankees or Mets two years ago, certainly justified that investment on Saturday night. He previously pitched a complete game win in the NLCS against the Brewers, but the Fall Classic brought even higher stakes.
The Blue Jays managed to tie the score 1-1 in the bottom of the third with Alejandro Kirk’s sacrifice fly, though that run was shortly overshadowed by Yamamoto’s subsequent dominance.
Notably, Kirk’s RBI came after Vladimir Guerrero, the last Blue Jays baserunner of the night, marking the first of 20 straight batters that Yamamoto sent back to the dugout.
The Blue Jays’ best chance to take the lead came in the first inning, highlighted by George Springer’s double and Nathan Rooks’ single. However, along with two strikeouts, Yamaha’s impressive pitching sequence kept the Blue Jays scoreless.
Interestingly, in the third inning, Yamamoto hit Springer with a 96 mph fastball, causing Kirk’s fly ball to account for the team’s only run of the night.
