2025 World Series Game 2: (NL No. 3) Los Angeles Dodgers def. (AL No. 1) Toronto Blue Jays 5-1
In the NLCS, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto made history by throwing the first postseason complete game in eight years. Eleven days later, he did it again — this time in the World Series.
Yamamoto delivered another masterful performance in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night at Rogers Centre, tossing nine innings on 105 pitches as the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5–1 to even the series at one game apiece. After a lopsided loss in Game 1, Los Angeles responded behind their dominant right-hander, who continues to establish himself as one of the best big-game pitchers in baseball.
Yamamoto became the first pitcher to throw back-to-back complete games in the postseason since Curt Schilling accomplished the feat in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s also the first Dodger to do so since Orel Hershiser in 1988. Yamamoto’s outing also marked the first World Series complete game since Johnny Cueto’s for the Kansas City Royals in 2015.
Toronto made Yamamoto work early, forcing him to throw 23 pitches in the opening inning. After giving up back-to-back hits to start the game, he escaped the jam unscathed. The Blue Jays scored their only run in the third on an Alejandro Kirk sacrifice fly, but from there, Yamamoto completely shut them down. He needed just six pitches to get through the fourth inning and eight to finish the fifth.
Displaying high level command and efficiency, Yamamoto threw just 59 pitches over his final six innings. Initially relying heavily on his splitter, he gradually mixed in the rest of his six-pitch arsenal. By the time he reached 93 pitches through eight innings, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had no hesitation sending him back out to close out the game.
Yamamoto retired the final 20 batters he faced, joining Don Larsen (1956), Grover Cleveland Alexander (1926), and Dutch Leonard (1915) as the only pitchers to close out a World Series game by retiring at least 20 consecutive hitters. He ended his night by forcing a groundout from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a lineout from Kirk, and a popout from Daulton Varsho to third base.
His final line: 9 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, and 8 strikeouts on 105 pitches. Yamamoto became the first Dodgers pitcher with at least eight strikeouts and zero walks in a World Series complete game since Sandy Koufax’s iconic performance in 1963.
With the Dodgers’ bullpen untouched for the second straight postseason game, Yamamoto’s gem helped Los Angeles bounce back after a rough opener but also put them in a strong position heading back home. The World Series is now tied 1–1, with Game 3 set for Monday at Dodger Stadium. Tyler Glasnow will take the mound for the Dodgers, while former Dodger Max Scherzer starts for the Blue Jays.
