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Yoshinobu Yamamoto achieves rare feat in World Series Game 2
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning during game two of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto achieves rare feat in World Series Game 2

The Toronto Blue Jays started things out with a bang in Game 1 of the World Series, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have answered in Game 2. What started as a pitchers’ duel between Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blue Jays journeyman Kevin Gausman took a turn in the Dodgers' favor in the seventh inning.

With the game tied at one, Will Smith and Max Muncy each took Gausman deep, bringing the score to 3-1 and chasing Gausman after 6.2 innings of work. His replacement, flame-throwing reliever Louis Varland, would do little to quench the flames, surrendering two more runs after giving way to traffic on the base paths. The Dodgers finished the night 5-1 over the Blue Jays. But the hero of the hour was none other than their ace. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws consecutive complete games in the postseason for the first time since 2001 

Though he faced adversity in the first few innings, Yamamoto gave the Dodgers exactly what they needed, carrying the team from the first pitch to the last. His final line: one run, four hits, eight strikeouts and no walks through nine innings, throwing an elusive postseason complete game. In doing so, Yamamoto became the first starter to throw consecutive complete games in the postseason since Curt Schilling in 2001. Yamamoto went the distance in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, also giving up one run. His ERA in this year's playoffs now stands at a mind-blowing 1.57. 

With the Dodgers' relief corps suffering from major instability and the absence of high-leverage reliever Alex Vesia, Los Angeles desperately needs every inning it can get from their star-studded starting rotation. This problem was evident in their blowout Game 1 loss on Friday.

Having stolen one game north of the border, the series will now head to the City of Angels with the Series tied at one. Tyler Glasnow is slated to square off with Max Scherzer in Game 3 on Monday. Game 4 will feature Shohei Ohtani and Shane Bieber on Tuesday. 

Jacob Mountz

Jacob Mountz is an avid baseball enthusiast and New York Yankee fanatic. His work covering the MLB has been featured on Yardbarker, Athlon Sports, FanSided, House That Hank Built and Medium. Jacob thoroughly enjoys Aaron Judge's moonshots and cheeseburgers of all sizes. 

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