LOS ANGELES — Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto was masterful in a 4-2 victory against the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday.
The Japanese right-hander threw 6.1 innings while allowing just one hit — a Juan Soto solo home run — with two walks and four strikeouts. Two of those came against AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge, who finished the night 0-4 with three strikeouts. Judge has struggled mightily this postseason, entering Saturday’s matchup with a .154 batting average and striking out three times on Friday.
"Everything was good because of location," Yamamoto said postgame through a translator. "In the zone, out of the zone, everything was working well."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Yamamoto, "was fantastic tonight."
The Dodgers got on the board first in the second inning on Tommy Edman’s solo home run off Carlos Rodón. Soto evened the score in the top of the third but that’s where the offense stalled for New York. The Dodgers extended their lead later that inning on Teoscar Hernández’s two-run home run to the right field stands. Moments later Freddie Freeman — the hero of Game 1 — hit a solo shot to make it 4-1 Los Angeles.
New York staged a comeback attempt in the top of the ninth inning. With Soto on second, Giancarlo Stanton singled to drive him in and cut the deficit to two runs. Jazz Chisholm then singled to right to have runners on first and second with one out. Los Angeles reliever Blake Treinen followed by hitting Anthony Rizzo to load the bases for Anthony Volpe, but Volpe struck out. Alex Vesia replaced Treinen and got Jose Trevino to fly out to centerfield.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he was happy his team fought until the end.
"We gave ourselves a chance to get back in it and win that game off a really good reliever. I love the at-bats there at the end, the compete, the fight," he said postgame. "No one said it's going to be easy. It's a long series and we need to make a it a long series now. We won't flinch. We just gotta keep at it."
While the Dodgers will now take a crucial 2-0 advantage to New York, they might do it with far less star power. NL MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani, who became the first player in baseball history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season, left the game in the seventh inning after suffering a left shoulder injury on a stolen base attempt.
He was helped off the field by Los Angeles’ training staff and evaluated.
“He had a little left shoulder subluxation,” Roberts said postgame. “We’re going to get some tests at some point tonight or tomorrow and we'll know more in the next couple of days. But the strength was great, the range of motion good, so we’re encouraged.”
Roberts said no decision has been made about whether Ohtani will play in Game 3, but would not rule him out for the remainder of the World Series.
“I’m not there,” he said. “I’m expecting him to be in the lineup.”
Game 3 will be at 8:05 p.m. ET Monday at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Walker Buehler will start for Los Angeles opposite New York's Clarke Schmidt.
Dave Roberts not ready to rule Ohtani out
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked about his lineup if Ohtani is unable to return this postseason.
“I’m not there,” he said. “I’m expecting him to be in the lineup.”
Dave Roberts 'encouraged' Ohtani will be OK
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani suffered a left shoulder injury tonight in the seventh inning.
“He had a little left shoulder subluxation,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said postgame. “We’re going to get some tests ... the strength was great, the range of motion good, so we’re encouraged.”
Dodgers win 4-2
Alex Vesia need a single pitch to retire Jose Trevino, who flew out to centerfield, leaving three men on base.
The Dodgers now lead the World Series 2-0 and things turn to the Bronx on Monday night.
Down to the final out
Anthony Volpe struck out on a breaking ball down and away, leaving the bases loaded. Rookie catcher Austin Wells was due up but the Yankees went to their bench for Jose Trevino.
The Dodgers go to the bullpen again and bring in Alex Vesia.
Bases loaded for Yankees
Anthony Rizzo took a ball off the back to load the bases, with Jazz Chisolm at second and Giancarlo Stanton on third with shortstop Anthony Volpe at the plate.
Yankees get closer
With Juan Soto on second base, Giancarlo Stanton singles on a ground ball to left fielder Chris Taylor. It's now 4-2 Yankees in the ninth.
Yankees bring tying run to the plate
Giancarlo Stanton rocketed a single off third base, bringing home Juan Soto who had advanced to second base on a wild pitch.
The Yankees are down 4-2 with one out and Jazz Chisolm up next.
Soto's long single
Juan Soto just missed another home run when he started the ninth with a single off the right field wall off Blake Treinen. Yankees hope that's the start of the rally.
We head to the ninth inning
The Yankees have three outs left to tie the game but have Soto, Judge and Stanton due up in the ninth inning. They'll face Blake Treinen, who gave up a run last night in 1.1 innings pitched.
Ohtani appears to hurt left arm
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was just helped off the field by training staff after sliding hard into second on a steal attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning. It appeared to be a left wrist or shoulder injury and is unclear if he’ll be taken out of the game.
Fox broadcasters, citing Japanese broadcaster NHK, say Ohtani said, "I popped my shoulder out."