Yamamoto’s Mastery Leads Dodgers to 5-1 Victory in NLCS Game 2

In a stunning display of pitching prowess, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a complete game performance, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a commanding 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on March 15, 2024. This win puts the Dodgers just two victories away from defending their title, following an impressive outing by teammate Blake Snell the previous night.

Yamamoto’s performance was historic, marking not only his first complete game in Major League Baseball but also the first for a Japanese pitcher in postseason history. He allowed just one run and three hits, retiring the final 14 batters he faced. The moment of triumph came when Yamamoto celebrated the 27th out with a silent “wow,” applauding himself into his glove after striking out Andrew Vaughn.

In a reflection of their dominance, Snell and Yamamoto became the first pair of teammates to pitch at least eight innings on consecutive postseason days since Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum did it for the 2010 Giants. Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager, acknowledged the superior performances, stating, “Both those pitchers were as dominant as two pitchers have been.” This sentiment resonated throughout the stadium, as even Austin Murphy, the manager’s son, noted, “It seems like we haven’t been hitting singles.”

The Dodgers have struggled with their bullpen this season, accumulating a -6.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), the second-worst in the league. In contrast, their starters, excluding Yamamoto, managed a more respectable 3.2 WAR. This discrepancy was evident in Game 1 when the bullpen allowed four earned baserunners in just one inning, while Snell and Yamamoto combined for only five earned runs over 17 innings.

Yamamoto’s outing was particularly noteworthy given his $325 million, 10-year contract, the largest in history for a pitcher. Despite facing challenges in the previous round against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was hit hard, Yamamoto rebounded effectively. He made adjustments to his pitching strategy, showcasing his signature splitter with greater frequency—throwing it 33 times during the game, resulting in seven swings and misses.

After conceding a first-pitch home run to Brewers rookie sensation Jackson Chourio, Yamamoto settled into a rhythm, allowing only five balls out of the infield for the remainder of the game. His teammate Max Muncy expressed confidence in Yamamoto’s potential, stating, “We said before this postseason started, our starting pitching was going to be what carried us.”

As the Dodgers look to build on their strong pitching performances, Tyler Glasnow is slated to start Game 3. Given the current momentum, the Dodgers appear poised to challenge for yet another championship.