Yamamoto Quietly Seals a Historic NLCS Win
In a night that demanded fireworks, Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered something far rarer: a complete-game gem in the postseason. The Dodgers ace didn’t roar or pump his fist after the final out. He walked off the mound, removed his glove with a calm efficiency, and waited to let the scoreboard do the talking. By the time he finally whispered a quiet “wow” to himself, the significance of his performance had begun to crystallize. Yamamoto’s nine-inning, three-hit, one-run masterclass propelled Los Angeles to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, a result that instantly reshaped the series outlook.
A Vintage, Pitch-Heavy Night in a Modern Postseason
In an era defined by pitch counts and bullpen-centric strategies, Yamamoto’s complete game felt like a throwback. He allowed a leadoff home run on the very first pitch—Jackson Chourio’s blast to right field—but did not let that early blemish derail him. Over 110 pitches, the 27-year-old right-hander scattered three hits, walked one, and struck out seven as he methodically worked through a Brewers lineup intent on challenging him. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts trusted Yamamoto to finish what he started, and the pitcher rewarded that confidence with a flawless late stretch that kept Milwaukee off balance.
How Yamamoto Got into a Rhythm
Yamamoto faced an initial hurdle, but he found his footing as the game progressed. The key, he and catcher Will Smith explained after the game, was a refined mix of splitter, curveball, cutters, and a late-biting fastball. Sharing pitch-calling duties, they coaxed outs by attacking hitters with precision rather than overpowering them. From the fifth inning on, the Brewers managed just two infield hits, underscoring how efficiently Yamamoto spun his mix and kept Milwaukee’s bats from mounting a sustained threat.
Impact and Context for the Dodgers
This night marked the first postseason complete game by a Dodgers pitcher since 2004, and it came eight years to the day after Justin Verlander authored MLB’s last playoff complete game. Among the Dodgers’ 23 postseason complete games, Yamamoto’s effort stands out for its efficiency and control: just four baserunners allowed, tied for the fewest in a Dodgers complete game, and three hits permitted, the fewest among the franchise’s postseason finales.
Manager and Teammate Reactions
Roberts praised Yamamoto’s unwavering confidence through the third time through the order, noting that his pitcher’s self-assurance gave him confidence to let him finish the game. Teammate Will Smith called the outing “domination,” while a light-hearted moment from Kiké Hernández—saying he’d grown bored in left field—proved the day’s mood had shifted from nerves to elation. Clayton Kershaw, a future Hall of Famer who has never thrown a playoff complete game, summed up the new Dodgers reality: “Good pitching beats good hitting any day of the week.”
Looking Ahead
With Yamamoto delivering a complete-game performance, the Dodgers hold a commanding 2-0 series lead. Tyler Glasnow is slated to start Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, followed by Shohei Ohtani in Game 4. If the rotation continues to click, the club could ride a 1.54 postseason ERA into the later rounds. As Kershaw reminded everyone, the current Dodgers rotation might be the best he has ever seen in his 18 years with the team, a sentiment echoed by teammates and reporters who watched Yamamoto’s quiet brilliance unfold on a chilly October night.
Bottom line: Yamamoto’s complete game wasn’t about theatrics; it was about execution. In a postseason that often rewards the bullpen, his vintage, efficient performance offered a clear statement: the Dodgers are ready for the next phase, and they have a pitcher who can carry them there with surgical precision.
