Game Summary — Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1 (Series tied 1–1)
The Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back to take Game 2 by a 5–1 margin, evening the series at one game apiece.
The performance of the night was Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw a complete game — four hits allowed, eight strikeouts, zero walks, and retired the final 20 batters he faced.
This was the first complete game in a World Series since 2015.
He became the first pitcher to throw multiple complete games in the same postseason since Madison Bumgarner in 2014, and the first to do so in back-to-back postseason starts since Curt Schilling in 2001.
Los Angeles scoring breakdown:
The Dodgers struck first in the 1st inning: Freddie Freeman doubled and later scored on a Will Smith RBI single to make it 1–0.
The game remained tight until the 7th inning, when back-to-back solo home runs by Will Smith and Max Muncy put L.A. ahead 3–1.
In the 8th inning, Toronto’s pitcher Jeff Hoffman threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score, and then Smith grounded into a force, driving in another run to make it 5–1. Wikipedia+2AP News+2
Toronto’s lone run came earlier: they scored via a sacrifice fly (hit by Alejandro Kirk) in the 3rd inning.
On the mound for Toronto was Kevin Gausman, who allowed 4 runs (3 earned) over 6⅔ innings, striking out six and walking none.
With that win, the Dodgers forced the series back to Los Angeles for Game 3, as the teams were now tied 1–1.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said:
“He could have went another, you know, 30, 40 pitches tonight.”
He also lauded Yamamoto’s composure: “I just feel that part of his DNA is to just perform at a high level in big spots, and control his heartbeat and just continue to make pitches.”
From Roberts on Yamamoto’s mindset going into the series:
“He said before the series, losing is not an option & he had that look tonight.”
