Yamamoto Delivers a Complete Game in the NLCS, Stuns the Baseball World
In a postseason moment that felt pulled from a different era, Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched MLB’s first postseason complete game since 2017, guiding the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. The performance was efficient, deliberate, and almost understated, a contrast to the emotional surges often accompanying a marquee October showdown.
A Quiet Masterclass on the Mound
Yamamoto didn’t scream. He didn’t pump a fist. He barely cracked a smile until he glanced at the center-field scoreboard and realized what he had accomplished. The nine-inning, three-hit, one-run gem marked a milestone not just for the Dodgers, but for the postseason as a whole: the last complete game in the playoffs by a Dodgers pitcher was in 2004, and the majors hadn’t seen one since 2017. It was old-school pitching—viciously efficient in a modern era of pitch counts and bullpen, yet deeply compelling in its execution.
How Yamamoto Controlled the Night
Yamamoto began with a reminder that the night would be a grind, surrendering a homer on the very first pitch to Jackson Chourio and then settling into a rhythm that would define the outing. He struck out seven and walked only one, facing a Brewers lineup that was determined to be aggressive. The key turned out to be his splitter, a weapon he refined as the game wore on, and a slate of complementary pitches that kept Milwaukee off balance. By the end, he had retired the final 14 batters and logged an efficient 110 pitches overall.
Supporting Showings and Postseason Context
The Dodgers backed Yamamoto with timely offense, scoring early and piling on late. Teoscar Hernández answered Chourio’s homer with a solo shot in the second, and Andy Pages added an RBI double to stake the Dodgers to a lead. Max Muncy then joined the party with a deep postseason homer, further extinguishing any hope of a comeback. Shohei Ohtani delivered an RBI single in the late innings, snapping a drought and providing insurance as Los Angeles moved two wins from the pennant.
Manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence in Yamamoto’s ability to finish, saying his pitcher’s readiness to go through the ninth gave him the luxury of an easy decision. Catcher Will Smith and Yamamoto collaborated on pitch-calling, a dynamic that highlighted the trust and communication that underpinned the night’s success.
Impact on the Series and the Rotation
The result places the Dodgers firmly in command with a 2-0 lead, and it preserves bullpen depth for a team that has a deep and talented rotation. Tyler Glasnow is set to start Game 3, with Shohei Ohtani following in Game 4. If health and form hold, Blake Snell and Yamamoto could both factor into late October plans, offering a daunting combination for any opponent.
Voices from the Dugout and Field
Clayton Kershaw, speaking as a veteran voice in the rotation, praised the level of pitching the Dodgers have displayed this postseason, noting that Yamamoto’s performance added another chapter to an era-defining staff. Will Smith’s praise for Yamamoto’s game underscored the seamless collaboration that defined the night, calling the display “domination.”
In a season that tested the Dodgers’ resilience, Yamamoto’s complete game was a reminder of the franchise’s enduring appetite for pitching excellence in October.
