Yamamoto nearly untouchable in stifling World Series debut

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto for a moment precisely like this one:

A swing game in the World Series. A handful of the sport’s best hitters in the opposing dugout. A charged atmosphere at Dodger Stadium.

Did Yamamoto ever deliver.

Making his first World Series start in Game 2 on Saturday night, Yamamoto stifled Yankees hitters all night, allowing just one hit across 6 1/3 excellent innings in the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory. His gem pushed Los Angeles into a commanding 2-0 series lead.

“You knew he had his good stuff tonight,” said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, the Game 1 hero. “Just an awesome first start in a World Series. Everything we needed out of him.”

Yamamoto had thrown only 86 pitches when manager Dave Roberts emerged from the dugout to call for his bullpen in the seventh. The unassuming right-hander exited to a standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd, briefly pausing to touch the bill of his cap in appreciation.

In the top of the third inning, Yamamoto had allowed a game-tying, two-out solo home run to Juan Soto. Ultimately, that thigh-high fastball was Yamamoto’s only punishable mistake. The Dodgers promptly took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame, and that was plenty.

“Once he got that lead, he kind of got into a rhythm, really did a good job of attacking the strike zone,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “It was hard to be patient with him when he was on the attack and getting ahead. I thought his stuff was good. I thought his fastball was good, slowing us down with the curveball -- and then the slider and the split, of course. I thought he was on his game.”

Of course, the Yankees had their crack at signing Yamamoto as well. They were among the finalists for the 26-year-old Japanese sensation last offseason. New York’s bid came in at 10 years and $300 million. The Dodgers offered $25 million (and two years) more.

Yamamoto ultimately chose Los Angeles -- and this wasn’t the first time he reminded the Yankees what they’re missing. The effort was reminiscent of Yamamoto’s first start against New York earlier this season, when he pitched seven scoreless innings on June 7. In total, he has allowed only one run to the Yankees across 13 1/3 frames, while surrendering just three hits.

• Dodgers-Yankees World Series Game 3 FAQ

That was also the last time Yamamoto pitched at least six innings in a start. Shortly after that outing, he landed on the IL with a strained rotator cuff, missing nearly three months. Are the Dodgers ever glad he’s back?

“By the time I came off the IL, I was already pretty much close to where I was before,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “Then after that, as I started pitching in games, I think I got better.”

Aside from Soto’s homer, Yamamoto kept the fearsome heart of the Yankees’ order off-balance. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton went hitless against him, and Soto also grounded out weakly twice. The weak contact became a theme.

“It's incredible,” said righty reliever Blake Treinen. “The only hit he gave up was to one of the hottest hitters on earth right now. That's an incredible start.”

Yamamoto blended five pitches expertly, and he got whiffs with all five. He retired the last 11 hitters he faced (though Roberts wasn’t about to push it, considering Yamamoto hadn’t reached 80 pitches in a start since returning from his injury).

It was the 11th start in World Series history of at least six innings with one hit or fewer. Only Rich Hill had done so previously for the Dodgers (in Game 4 in 2018).

The Yankees had turned in four of those outings -- David Cone, Orlando Hernandez, Don Larsen and Bill Bevens. They’d never been on the wrong end of one -- until Yamamoto changed that on Saturday.

“Everything,” Yamamoto said, “was working well today.”