The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-0 lead over the New York Yankees in the World Series behind a stellar start from Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The right-hander allowed just one hit — a solo home run by Juan Soto — and collected four strikeouts over 6.1 innings. Yamamoto incorporated an effective pitch mix of sliders and splitters to play off an electric fastball and keep Yankees hitters off balance throughout the night.
“Everything was good,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “I think the location and the height in the zone, everything was working well today.
“I was trying to focus on facing one hitter at a time. So I was able to throw the strike when I wanted, and I was being able to face the hitters one at a time.”
Yamamoto’s Game 2 start was the first time since June 7 that he pitched into the seventh inning, which also came against the Yankees.
“I was trying to focus on facing one hitter at a time,” Yamamoto explained. “So I was able to throw the strike when I wanted, and I was being able to face the hitters one at a time.”
Yamamoto was more aggressive with attacking the strike zone after the Dodgers took the lead.
“I allowed them to tie the game, then after that, I got run support, just like you said, then I was able to keep them zero after that inning.” he said.
Yamamoto, who missed over three months with a rotator cuff strain/right triceps injury, believes this is the strongest he has felt all season.
“By the time I came off the IL, I was pretty much close to where I was before. Then after that, as I started pitching in a game, then I think I got better,” Yamamoto said.
Teoscar Hernández: Yoshinobu Yamamoto ‘made’ for big moments
Yamamoto owns a 3.86 ERA in four postseason starts and has held hitters to a paltry .179 batting average.
Teoscar Hernández, who provided the go-ahead hit with a two-run homer in the third, believes Yamamoto was built for October baseball.
“Yamamoto, he was made for those moments,” Hernández began. “He was doing it in Japan before he got here, and as soon as he got here, he was doing it here. We trust in him. Earlier today I told him it’s going to be a good night for him, and he did.
“He gave us a chance to score some runs. He put some zeros on the board, and we won the game.”
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