In a performance more reminiscent of an era gone by than modern-day baseball, Yoshinobu Yamamoto turned the tide in favour of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series, delivering a complete-game masterclass as the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 to even the series at 1-1.
After a humiliating 11-4 loss in Game 1, where the Dodgers’ bullpen showed cracks and doubt crept into the clubhouse, the pitching duty fell to Yamamoto and he seized the moment. He allowed only four hits, struck out eight, walked none, and retired the final 20 batters he faced, all while throwing 105 pitches.
The game was tight early. The Blue Jays had their chances, and their starter Kevin Gausman matched Yamamoto pitch-for-pitch for much of his outing, retiring 17 straight Dodgers batters at one point. But the turning point came in the seventh inning: Will Smith smashed a go-ahead solo home run, and two batters later Max Muncy followed with another. Those blasts broke the 1-1 tie and the Dodgers added insurance in the eighth to cement the win.
Yamamoto’s performance stands out not only for its dominance but for its rarity. It was the first complete game in a World Series since 2015, and he became the first pitcher since Curt Schilling in 2001 to throw back-to-back complete games in the postseason. His six-pitch repertoire — including fastballs averaging 96.2 mph, splitters, curveballs and cutters — left the Blue Jays hitters guessing and unable to mount a rally.
From the Dodgers’ perspective, this win is pivotal. After the demoralising Game 1 defeat, this performance restored momentum and sent the series back to Los Angeles with the defending champions firing on all cylinders. Manager Dave Roberts called Yamamoto’s outing “locked in” and said the mindset was clear: losing was not an option. For the Blue Jays, the result exposed that even their highly-touted offence can be silenced, and that in October, one dominant start can swing a series.
In the end, Yamamoto didn’t just pitch well — he took the game away. And in doing so, he reminded the baseball world that despite changes in usage patterns and bullpen-driven strategies, a starter still has the potential to seize control and carry his team when it matters most. For the Dodgers and their fans, this night may well be remembered as the moment they regained control of the 2025 World Series.
