Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an outstanding performance on Saturday night, pitching a four-hitter for his second consecutive complete game. This remarkable feat marks the first complete game in the World Series since 2015. The defending champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, triumphed over the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1, leveling their best-of-seven series at one game each.
Building on his previous success, which saw him pitch a three-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), Yamamoto retired the last 20 batters he faced. His complete game was the first in the Fall Classic since Johnny Cueto of the Kansas City Royals achieved the same against the New York Mets in Game 2, 10 years ago.
Reflecting on his mental approach during the game, Yamamoto stated, "I was trying to be in the game relaxed, but it’s the World Series. So early on, I was throwing with unnecessary tension. So I just adjusted that as the game went on." This adjustment was key to his success, as he navigated through the game efficiently.
No pitcher had completed consecutive games in the postseason since Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks accomplished the feat in 2001, when he had three complete games in a row during the NL Division Series and NLCS.
Will Smith was instrumental for the Dodgers, contributing three RBIs, including a pivotal seventh-inning home run that broke a 1-all tie. This home run came off Kevin Gausman, who had impressively retired 17 batters in succession. Max Muncy also joined the long-ball effort, adding another solo homer later in the seventh inning. This contest was notably the first postseason game in history where two pitchers each retired 17 or more consecutive batters, as noted by the Elias Sports Bureau.
At 27 years old and in just his second big-league season, Yamamoto threw 105 pitches, with 73 strikes, after having previously tossed 111 against the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS on October 14. Though he took 23 pitches to get through the first inning, he settled into a rhythm as the game progressed. Muncy commented on Yamamoto's composure, stating, "He’s just not letting anything get to him. His last start, he had the leadoff homer and ended up finishing the game." This composure allowed him to maintain control of his pitch count and complete the game, which was a significant achievement.
In total, Yamamoto struck out eight batters without issuing a walk, improving his postseason record to 5-1 with the Dodgers. The team has won 7 of his starts. He became the first Dodgers pitcher to achieve back-to-back complete games in the postseason since Orel Hershiser did so in 1988. Smith praised Yamamoto’s performance, saying, "Yoshi the last two outings has been just as dominant as can be."
Utilizing an arsenal of six pitches, Yamamoto allowed only one run, which occurred in the third inning after hitting George Springer near his wrist. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a single off the left-field wall, marking the last time a runner reached base while Yamamoto was on the mound, as he quickly retired Alejandro Kirk on a sacrifice fly thereafter.
Freddie Freeman got the Dodgers on the scoreboard first with a two-out double in the opening inning, scoring on Smith’s single. Smith’s home run, which soared into the left-field second deck on a full-count fastball, was a standout moment in the game. Shortly thereafter, Muncy also struck a homer off a fastball on the outside corner. In the eighth inning, Jeff Hoffman unintentionally contributed to the Dodgers' score with a wild pitch, allowing an additional run, and Smith followed that with an RBI forceout.
Los Angeles took the lead again in the first inning, with Freeman doubling after fouling off three two-strike pitches and subsequent singles from Smith driving him home. Springer’s earlier double and Nathan Lukes’ single created a dangerous situation for the Dodgers with runners at the corners and no outs in the bottom half of the first, but Yamamoto was unfazed, striking out Guerrero and forcing Kirk into a line out before catching Daulton Varsho looking for the third out.
Despite a fielding error by Freeman in the second inning, which allowed Ernie Clement's leadoff pop-up to drop for a single, Yamamoto showcased his skill by retiring the next three batters. A day after Bo Bichette returned from a sprained knee that had kept him sidelined for seven weeks, the two-time All-Star started on the bench for Toronto but pinch-hit in the seventh inning, grounding out before taking over at second base.
As the Dodgers and Blue Jays head into a travel day, the World Series resumes Monday night at Dodger Stadium. The upcoming Game 3 will feature Toronto's right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer against the Dodgers' righty Tyler Glasnow. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, will make history as the first pitcher to start in the World Series for four different teams.
