Yoshinobu Yamamoto Makes History, Wows Fans as Dodgers Even World Series vs. Blue Jays

A historic complete game from Yoshinobu Yamamoto helped the Los Angeles Dodgers steal home field advantage in the 2025 World Series.

Yamamoto both started and closed out the Dodgers' 5-1 Game 2 win on Saturday night in Toronto.

The Dodgers will now head back to Los Angeles having evened the series at 1-1.

After throwing nine innings in Game 2 of the NLCS, Yamamoto will become the first starter since 2001 to throw back-to-back postseason complete games.

Yamamoto became the first pitcher to record a complete postseason game in eight years back on Oct. 15, when he helped the Dodgers win the second game of an NLCS sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ten days later, he threw 105 pitches (73 strikes) and recorded eight strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one run through nine innings against the Blue Jays.

Back at the beginning of Game 2, Will Smith got the Dodgers on the board first with an RBI single in the top of the first inning.

The Blue Jays forced Yamamoto through 23 pitches in the first inning before he was able to close out the frame by striking out Daulton Varsho.

Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk tied things up in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly that sent George Springer home.

The visitors meanwhile struggled to hit off Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who at one point retired a stretch of 17 straight Dodgers batters.

The Dodgers managed to break things open in the top of the seventh and chase Gausman from the mound thanks to back-to-back home runs from Smith and Max Muncy.

Yamamoto, who had settled things down after the first inning, needed just 82 pitches to get through the final eight frames.

After allowing Kirk's sacrifice fly in the third, Yamamoto did not allow a single Blue Jays runner to make it on base.

He made his case for a shot at a second straight complete game by retiring the side in the seventh and eighth innings.

The Dodgers meanwhile padded their lead in the eighth after loading the bases and scoring on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice.

Yamamoto then came back out to retire three straight batters in the ninth and close out the win.

Los Angeles will now earn redemption from Friday night's 11-4 Game 1 blowout while heading home with a tied series.

The World Series swings to Los Angeles for the first time in a year when the series resumes Monday with Game 3 at Dodger Stadium. Tyler Glasnow is set to start Game 3, while Shohei Ohtani will return to the mound in Tuesday night's Game 4.