Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed just four hits in his second straight complete game, first in a World Series since 2015, and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Saturday night, tying the series 1-1.
After allowing only three hits against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, Yamamoto retired the Jays’ final 20 batters.
The last pitcher to throw a complete game in the Fall Classic was Johnny Cueto of the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 against the New York Mets 10 years ago.
“I was trying to be relaxed going into the game, but it’s the World Series. So at first I was a little too tense, Yamamoto admitted through an interpreter. So I adjusted my game as I went along. »
No pitcher has pitched two consecutive complete games in the postseason since Curt Schilling with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.
Will Smith drove in three runs for the Dodgers, breaking a 1-1 tie with a seventh-inning homer off Kevin Gausman, who had retired 17 straight batters. Max Muncy added another solo cannon later in the round.
It was the first postseason game where two pitchers both struck out 17 or more batters in a row, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The 27-year-old right-hander, who is in his second season in Major League Baseball, threw 105 pitches, including 73 strikes, after throwing 111 against the Brewers on October 14. It took him 23 pitches to finish the first inning, but then he regained his composure.
“He never gives up,” Muncy said. From what I’ve seen, nothing bothers him. He keeps his cool at all times and only thinks about making his next throw. »
Yamamoto struck out eight and did not allow a walk, improving his record to 5-1 in two years with the Dodgers, who went 7-1 in his starts.
“It was his night. He worked on every pitch,” said Blue Jays player Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Yamamoto became the first Dodgers pitcher to win two consecutive complete games in the postseason since Orel Hershiser in 1988.
“He’s a player from the past,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Using six pitches, Yamamoto gave up his only run in the third inning after hitting George Springer near the wrist and giving up a single to Guerrero over the left field wall. It was the last runner conceded by Yamamoto, who began his series by retiring Alejandro Kirk on a sacrifice fly.
“His last two outings have been fun. He can do anything, said Smith, the Dodgers catcher. Yoshi has been just as dominant in his last two outings. »
Freddie Freeman hit a two-out double in the first inning and scored on a single by Smith.
Jeff Hoffman threw a bad throw, which allowed the Dodgers to add another run in the eighth inning, and Smith followed with a productive option.
A day after the return of Bo Bichette, who had been sidelined for seven weeks, the Jays player started the game on the bench. He was the relief hitter in the seventh inning, but was grounded out and remained in the game at second base.
The series will resume Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer will face Dodgers right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow in Game 3.
A three-time Cy Young Trophy winner, Scherzer, 41, will become the first pitcher to start for four teams in the World Series. He previously earned starts with the Detroit Tigers (2012), Washington Nationals (2019) and New York Rangers (2023).
