Dodgers even World Series thanks to Yoshinobu Yamamotos complete-game gem in Game 2
TORONTO — It is, in fact, possible to tame the Blue Jays lineup.It just takes a masterful performance from an ace like Yoshinobu Yamamoto to send the World Series to Los Angeles tied 1-1 because of it.A night after the pesky Blue Jays lineup got to Blake Snell and blew open the game against the Dodgers bullpen, Yamamoto took matters into his own hands and never let a reliever touch the ball.Yamamoto retired the final 20 batters he faced to finish off a complete-game gem — his second in a row — sending the Dodgers to a 5-1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 2 on Saturday night at Rogers Centre.“I’ve been playing a long time and haven’t ever seen anything like this,” Mookie Betts said.That is because nothing like it had happened since 2001, when Curt Schilling threw three straight complete games in the postseason.But after going the distance against the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS, Yamamoto became the first pitcher in 24 years to throw back-to-back complete games in the postseason, in an era when the leash on starting pitchers has gotten progressively shorter.“It was one of those things he said before the series: Losing is not an option.
And he had that look tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said.Making this one more impressive was that it came 24 hours after the Blue Jays had scored 11 runs on 14 hits in Game 1.Yamamoto shut them down, scattering four hits while striking out eight and walking none across 105 pitches.“My pitching style is just keep attacking the zone,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter.
“To be honest, I was not thinking I can complete the game because my pitch count racked up kind of quickly.But I’m very happy I completed the game.”Will Smith and Max Muncy provided the difference-making swings — a pair of solo home runs off Kevin Gausman in the seventh inning that broke a 1-1 tie — to ensure Yamamoto’s effort would not go to waste.The Dodgers arrived in the World Series having gone 9-1 through the NL wild-card series...