The Los Angeles Dodgers were coming off a thrashing in Game 1 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. 11-4 was the score in that opening game of the Fall Classic. In the sixth inning, the Angels’ bullpen collapsed and the debacle came. However, they knew they had Yoshinobu Yamamoto ready to face Game 2. And that would be a different story.
And so it was. Yamamoto looked unstoppable, imposing, unique, magical, spectacular from the mound. His pitches were pure gold. Masterful pitching gems that almost completely dried up the power of the Blue Jays.
After this masterful performance, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was not surprised, because he knows that the talent of his pitcher is more than proven. He also stressed that the winning mentality of the Japanese pitcher puts him in a unique position.
Yamamoto threw his second complete game of the 2025 postseason
Game 2 of the Fall Classic was the second for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to pitch complete this postseason. And this milestone is the second time in the Wild Card era, since it was instituted. The first time was in 2001 with Curt Schilling.
Yes, he was focused tonight. As he said before the series, losing is not an option. And that was his look tonight.
Roberts said in the post-match interview.
But such performances are not unusual for Yamamoto, as Roberts highlighted something similar that the Japanese pitcher did when he played in his country’s league and the WBC.
He pitched in big games in Japan,”…”He pitched in the World Baseball Classic. And for players who carry the weight of a country, that’s pressure. So I think part of his DNA is to perform at his best in key moments, control the heart rate and keep pitching. I mean, he could have thrown another 30 or 40 pitches tonight.
And it is that in the face of performances with such splendor as that of this past Saturday, it only requires sitting down to enjoy the great talent.
For me, it’s really fun to support someone. And you feel good about leaving someone like that on the team. He’s done it in two games in a row. And he’s done it in two postseason games in a row.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto restores Dodgers’ shine
Yamamoto not only excelled with the pitching he threw in Game 2 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, but also made it clear that his team is still the favorite that they were labeled as before the games began.
At the beginning of the first inning, I was pitching with unnecessary tension, but I adapted and then I was able to execute my pitches… I started to feel more warmed up and then I got into a rhythm.
Yamamoto said through a translator.
Now, this Sunday, October 26, the teams will make the trip to the West Coast to prepare for game three, where Max Scherzer will be pitching for the Jays, while Tyler Glasnow will be on the mound for the Dodgers
With the series tied at one game apiece, the third game will be vital in setting the pace for the rest of the Fall Classic, which so far has not disappointed.
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