The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) as they head back to Southern California, largely thanks to their outstanding starting pitching. Following Blake Snell’s remarkable eight-inning performance in Game 1, Yoshinobu Yamamoto raised the bar even higher in Game 2, completing a full game in the Dodgers’ convincing 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. In an impressive outing, Yamamoto allowed just three hits, one run, one walk, and struck out seven batters, all while throwing 111 pitches.
This marks not only Yamamoto’s first complete game in Major League Baseball but also the Dodgers’ first complete game in the postseason since 2004, when Jose Lima achieved the feat. Furthermore, it is the first complete game thrown by any pitcher during the playoffs since Justin Verlander did it in 2017. Despite giving up a leadoff home run to Jackson Chourio in the first inning, Yamamoto settled down and dominated, showcasing his full pitching arsenal.
Offensively, the Dodgers capitalized on their opportunities, starting with Teoscar Hernández, who homered in the second inning to tie the game. Andy Pages followed with a double that brought in another run to give Los Angeles the lead. Max Muncy contributed a significant two-run homer in the sixth, solidifying the team’s advantage, while Shohei Ohtani and Tommy Edman added more runs in the latter innings to secure the win.
Defensively, the Brewers’ pitching staff has experimented throughout this postseason, but the Dodgers have consistently maintained a powerful offensive presence. Freddy Peralta, their leading pitcher, struggled to contain the Dodgers’ hitters at American Family Field.
As the series shifts to Los Angeles, the Brewers face the challenge of needing to win two out of three games at Dodger Stadium to extend the series back to Milwaukee. Game 3 is set for 6:08 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Yamamoto’s performance in Game 2 was a stark contrast to his previous outing against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he struggled significantly with his splitter. In that game, he threw twelve splitters, with eight missing the strike zone entirely. Against the Brewers, however, he executed 34 splitters, achieving eight swings and misses, demonstrating a marked improvement that allowed him to showcase his potential as one of the league’s elite pitchers.
In addition to Yamamoto’s triumph, Max Muncy made history by becoming the all-time postseason home run leader for the Dodgers with a significant sixth-inning homer that spanned 412 feet. This accomplishment came after he had previously faced criticism for a double play in Game 1 caused by a baserunning error. Muncy’s journey from being cut by the Athletics to standing at the top of the Dodgers’ postseason batting ranks exemplifies the team’s capacity for nurturing talent and resilience.
As the Dodgers continue their playoff run, the combination of exceptional pitching and timely hitting holds the promise of advancing further in the postseason, instilling optimism among players and fans alike.