What a start for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who held Toronto hitters in check as Dodgers earn split of first two 2025 World Series games at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Series takes day off on Sunday before picking back up on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
When Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts needed a big stopper to go out and give him a big game in the 2025 World Series, all he had to do was smile in Yoshinobu Yamamoto's direction.
Yamamoto went out on Saturday night and threw a complete-game masterpiece, keeping Toronto Blue Jays hitters in check all night long. The Dodgers managed to scrape across some runs, thanks to home runs from Will Smith and Max Muncy en route to a 5-1 win at Rogers Centre.
The victory now puts the 2025 World Series tied at a game apiece. The Dodgers and Blue Jays have Sunday off for a travel day, then pick up with Game 3 on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
But the big, big story on Saturday night was Yamamoto. What did he do? How about nine innings pitched, allowing just four hits, one earned run, not walking a batter, and striking out eight Blue Jays hitters.
His fastball and offspeed pitches were around the plate all night long. Yamamoto, who pitched his second consecutive postseason complete game, had Toronto hitters swinging and missing a lot at the plate.
It cannot be emphasized enough how much Roberts needed Yamamoto to go out and pitch like he did. The Dodgers bullpen is not the best outlet to have available at all. Roberts knows this, so getting any type out of his starters will help.
Smith went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, Muncy and Andy Pages also had hits for the Dodgers.
George Springer, Nathan Lukes, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Ernie Clement had the hits for Toronto. But there would be no big-time offensive explosion from the Blue Jays at all on Saturday night.
They get to spend 24-plus hours scratching their heads and wondering how they can get into the Dodgers bullpen.
As for Roberts? He doesn't want that to happen at all.
The Dodgers do have some pitching set up as the 2025 World Series rolls along. Roberts wants to see his starting pitchers go deep in the next games.
But give Yamamoto his flowers for Saturday night's effort. This one will be remembered among the Dodgers legendary pitching efforts from the likes of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.
Dodgers Nation, your team is coming home with their sights set on sweeping the next three games in the 2025 World Series.
Let's see if they can pull it off.