Yamamoto’s Breakthrough: A Postseason Masterpiece
Ohana Magazine – Yoshinobu Yamamoto etched his name in MLB lore by throwing a complete game in Game 2 of the NLCS, a feat not seen in eight years. The 27‑year‑old pitched all nine innings, struck out seven, surrendered only three hits, and walked just one. His dominant performance powered the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5‑1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers and a 2–0 series lead.
A First in Many Ways
This was Yamamoto’s first complete game in his MLB career regular season or playoffs. Remarkably, it was also the first complete game in the postseason since Justin Verlander’s 2017 ALCS gem. Further, Yamamoto became the first Japanese-born player ever to achieve such a postseason feat. That historic combination underscores both talent and timing.
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Quick Jolt, Swift Reset
The game didn’t start perfectly for Yamamoto. On the very first pitch, Jackson Chourio launched a home run. Rather than letting doubt creep in, Yamamoto reset. “That was the first hitter … I reset my mind,” he said through an interpreter. From then on, he commanded the mound, dictating tempo and rhythm, and didn’t allow another run.
Rare Company: Leadoff Homer, Complete Game
Yamamoto joined an exclusive list: just four pitchers in postseason history have allowed a leadoff home run yet completed the game. His feat of conceding just one run over nine frames demonstrates both resilience and elite execution under pressure.
Dodgers’ Dynasty of Pitching Starts
Yamamoto’s gem came on the heels of Blake Snell’s strong outing in Game 1. Both starters went at least eight innings with one run or fewer allowed, making them the first pair of teammates to do so in consecutive postseason starts since Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto in 2016. The Dodgers’ rotation is clearly proving to be a foundational strength.
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Offensive Support & Milestones Met
While Yamamoto handled the mound, the Dodgers’ bats delivered. Teoscar Hernández tied the game with a solo shot; Andy Pages drove in the go‑ahead run; and Max Muncy launched a 412‑foot homer to become the franchise’s postseason home run leader with 14. Muncy’s emotion was evident: “It means a lot to me… to break that record is kind of huge.”
Statistical Edge & Momentum
Through two games, L.A. has allowed just five hits tying the 1906 Cubs’ record for fewest hits allowed in the first two games of a postseason series. Moreover, teams that go up 2–0 in a best-of-seven series win roughly 83.9% of the time. With Game 3 shifting to Los Angeles, the Dodgers’ odds look strong.
