LOS ANGELES — In an impressive performance, Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed just one hit over 6 1/3 innings, while Freddie Freeman homered for the second consecutive night, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday. This win secured a 2-0 lead for the Dodgers in the World Series.
Alongside Freeman, Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández also contributed with home runs, all of which came against Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón. In a concerning moment for the Dodgers, star player Shohei Ohtani left the field with a left arm injury at the end of the seventh inning.
The Yankees staged a late rally, narrowing the score to 4-2 with Giancarlo Stanton’s RBI single in the ninth inning off Blake Treinen. However, Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia came in with the bases loaded and recorded a crucial first-pitch flyout against pinch-hitter Jose Trevino to secure the save.
Yamamoto gave up a home run to Juan Soto in the third inning but managed to retire his last 11 batters and 15 of the final 16 he faced. Soto added a single in the ninth, scoring off Stanton’s hit that deflected off the third-base bag. Jazz Chisholm Jr. also singled, and Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch, filling the bases. Treinen struck out Anthony Volpe before Vesia took over on the mound.
Ohtani sustained his injury while sliding feet-first in a failed stolen base attempt, which ended the seventh inning.
The next game of the series is scheduled for Monday night at Yankee Stadium. Historically, 45 out of 56 teams with a 2-0 World Series lead have gone on to clinch the championship.
New York’s Aaron Judge struggled at the plate, going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. His postseason average now stands at .150, with six RBIs and 19 strikeouts in 40 at-bats.
Soto’s home run marked the only run Yamamoto surrendered in 13 1/3 innings across two starts against the Yankees this season. He left the mound to a warm ovation and acknowledged the fans with a slight tip of his cap.
The Dodgers welcomed Yamamoto to their roster with a groundbreaking 12-year, $325 million contract last December. This move garnered significant attention in Major League Baseball, especially in Japan where he partnered with Ohtani.
Yamamoto had previously been sidelined due to a strained rotator cuff, making this performance his best since returning to action. He struck out four batters and allowed two walks while showcasing a diverse mix of pitches including curveballs and sliders, achieving a record of 2-0 in four postseason starts.
Previously, he had his best regular-season outing at Yankee Stadium in June, allowing only three hits over seven scoreless innings. Hernández had a standout performance, with three homers and nine RBIs in that series against the Yankees.
In a memorable turn of events, Edman hit a solo home run in the second inning that gave the Dodgers an early lead. After Soto’s equalizer, Mookie Betts enabled a two-out rally by hitting a single, leading Hernández to hit a homer as well, breaking a 3-for-27 slump.
Freeman was celebrated by fans, having homered again after a lengthy dry spell since September 16. Playing through a sprained right ankle, he has now homered in four consecutive World Series games, just one shy of the record held by George Springer of the Astros.
All three Dodgers home runs came off fastballs thrown by Rodón, who allowed four runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings. The Dodgers’ 2-0 Series lead marks their first since 1988, when they famously clinched the championship in a dramatic fashion against Oakland. Meanwhile, the Yankees are looking to regroup after facing an 0-2 deficit for the first time since 2001.
LOOKING AHEAD
The upcoming game will feature Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt going against Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler. Schmidt holds a 3.86 ERA across his two postseason starts, while Buehler will be looking to improve upon his previous Game 3 performances.