Yoshinobu Yamamoto dominated the New York Yankees for a second time this year and the Los Angeles Dodgers hit three home runs en route to a 4-2 win in Game 2 of the World Series.
The Dodgers now have a 2-0 postseason series lead for the first time since the 2020 National League Division Series. Game 3 at Yankee Stadium is on Monday night, followed by Game 4 the next day. If necessary, the Yankees will host Game 5 as well on Wednesday.
NL Championship Series MVP Tommy Edman provided a spark for the Dodgers once again by hitting a solo home run off Carlos Rodón in the second inning.
The Dodgers’ 1-0 lead was erased when Juan Soto hit a game-tying home run in the third inning. That wound up being the lone blemish for Yamamoto as he pitched 6.1 innings and retired the final 11 batters faced.
It was Yamamoto’s first time complete six innings since doing June 7, which was against the Yankees as well.
Yamamoto’s fastball velocity got up to 98 mph early and he incorporated an effective mix of sliders and splitters to keep Yankees hitters off balance throughout the night.
He was aided by the Dodgers putting together a productive third inning before chasing Rodón from the game. The veteran left-hander has failed to complete five innings in three of his four postseason starts this year.
Mookie Betts’ two-out single in the third was followed by Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman hitting back-to-back home runs.
Freeman joined Yankees legend Reggie Jackson as the only players in MLB postseason history to homer in consecutive World Series games for multiple teams. That also extended Freeman’s streak to four consecutive World Series games with a home run.
It’s tied with Jackson and Lou Gehrig for the second-longest such stretch in MLB playoff history. George Springer holds the World Series record of five games in a row with a home run.
Overall in Dodgers playoff history, it was the ninth time a player homered in consecutive World Series games. The last time before Freeman was Justin Turner in Games 3 and 4 of the 2020 World Series.
Blake Treinen allowed a run in the ninth inning and struggled as the Yankees loaded the bases. He got Anthony Volpe to chase a pitch out of the zone before the Dodgers turned to Alex Vesia to finish off their win.
Dodgers World Series history
The Dodgers’ back-to-back home runs were the first in a World Series game since 2022 and the 19th overall instance. Prior to Game 2, the franchise had last done so in 1981 Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager combining for the feat.
Shohei Ohtani injury
Excitement toward the Dodgers taking a 2-0 lead in the World Series fell to a hush at Dodger Stadium when Shohei Ohtani suffered an apparent left shoulder injury while trying to steal second base.
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