Yoshinobu Yamamoto is now in rarified air. The Japanese right hander tossed his second consecutive complete game win this postseason as he led the Dodgers to a 5-1 win in game two of the World Series on Saturday night at Rogers Center in Toronto. The Dodger’s victory evens the series as it shifts to Dodger Stadium for game 3 on Monday night. Yamamoto’s complete game is the first for a Dodger in the World Series since Orel Hershiser in the 1988 fall classic.
Yamamoto was fantastic and is the clear ace of the staff, but he wasn’t the only Dodger to lead the club to a win. Where would the Dodgers be without catcher Will Smith? The Dodger’s backstop Smith, drove in three of the club’s five runs. He had an RBI single in the top of the first that scored Freddie Freeman (after Freddie had doubled). With the score tied at 1-1 in the seventh, Smith’s massive second deck home run broke the tie to give the Dodgers the 2-1 lead. Smith also added an RBI grounder in the top of the eighth. The Dodgers scored two in the seventh, and two more in the top of the eighth.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto was dealing. Yamamoto had to escape some early jams in the first few frames. Toronto had first and third with none out in the bottom of the first after George Springer doubled, and Nathan Lukes’ single cornered the runners. Yamamoto struck out Valdimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho to escape.
8 Ks in the Six from Yoshinobu. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wifII1fT2P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2025
The Blue Jays got one in the bottom of the third to even the score. Springer was hit by a pitch, and after Lukes struck out, Guerrero singled and Alejandro Kirk’s sacrifice fly scored Springer to tie the score.
Then in the top of the seventh Smith and Maxy Muncy hit back to back home runs off of opposing starter Kevin Gausman to put the Dodgers ahead by a 3-1 score. Gausman who seemed to have his splitter working well, tossed 6.2 allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out six.
WILL TO THE SECOND DECK! #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/1grYy67gVZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2025
WILL THE REAL MAD MAX PLEASE STAND UP?! pic.twitter.com/hDsqWJG8cD
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2025
Yamamoto just continued to roll. Yamamoto did not allow a single base-runner after the third inning. Yoshi tossed nine innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits. He walked none and struck out eight. He made 105 pitches. Yamamoto is the first pitcher to toss back-to-back complete games in the postseason since Curt Schilling in 2001.
It’s becoming crystal clear that if the Dodgers need a win, they give the ball to Yamamoto. He is becoming the ace of the Dodger’s staff. Over his last 18 innings, he’s allowed just two earned runs. The last pitcher to throw a complete game in the World Series was Johnny Cueto in the 2015 World Series. The Dodgers look to take the series lead with some home cooking on Monday evening.
It’s so nice when Scott just writes and doesn’t go for the reaction.
What happened to Clay?!?!!?!
He’s still around, just life got in the way. He’s still here. We’ll see him return soon.