What We Learned From Dodgers’ Masterful Win Over Blue Jays In Game 2 Of World Series

The Blue Jays’ 11–4 blowout triumph complete nan Dodgers successful Game 1 of nan 2025 World Series connected Friday nighttime turned into a laugher. Game 2 was thing but.

In a pitcher’s duel betwixt Toronto seasoned Kevin Gausman and Los Angeles ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, nan Dodgers separated themselves pinch 2 large blasts by Will Smith and Max Muncy successful nan seventh inning. It was capable for Los Angeles to thrust Yamamoto’s correct limb nan remainder of nan measurement for a 5–1 triumph to moreover up nan World Series astatine 1 crippled apiece.

The World Series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3. But earlier it does, let’s return a look astatine what we learned from Game 2:

A prima is born.

The past clip Yamamoto took nan elevation successful a playoff game, he allowed conscionable 1 tally successful a complete crippled to lead nan Dodgers to a 5–1 triumph complete nan Brewers successful Game 2 of nan NLCS. He did it again Saturday nighttime connected baseball’s biggest stage.

Yamamoto allowed conscionable 1 tally connected 4 hits complete 9 innings pinch 8 strikeouts against nan Blue Jays successful Game 2. He’s nan first pitcher to log back-to-back complete games successful nan postseason since Curt Schilling did it for nan Diamondbacks successful 2001.

He’s besides nan first pitcher to log a complete crippled successful nan World Series since Royals righthander Johnny Cueto successful 2015.

Yamamoto recovered himself successful problem early, allowing astatine slightest 1 baserunner successful nan first 3 innings, and nan Blue Jays sewage 1 tally crossed connected a sacrifice alert successful nan third. But he was lights retired nan remainder of nan evening, retiring 20 consecutive batters from nan 3rd inning to erstwhile Daulton Varsho popped retired to extremity nan game.

In 2 profession World Series starts, Yamamoto has surrendered conscionable 2 full runs connected 5 hits pinch 12 strikeouts successful 15 1/3 innings—adding up to a 1.17 ERA.

Gettin’ jiggy wit it

Entering Game 2, Dodgers catcher Will Smith had 9 hits successful this postseason run, but each 9 were singles. He added different guidelines sound successful nan first inning disconnected Gausman—one that brought successful nan first tally of nan game—but Smith saved nan biggest plaything of nan Dodgers’ postseason tally for nan seventh.

With 1 retired successful nan inning, Smith squared up a 3–2 fastball and sent it 404 feet into nan precocious platform successful near section for a 2–1 lead.

Smith’s timely hitting calmed concerns astir nan Dodgers’ offense. There’s not overmuch to kick astir Los Angeles’s 9–2 grounds this postseason, but it’s been connected nan backs of an elite pitching staff. The Dodgers are batting conscionable .230 pinch runners successful scoring position this postseason, and astir of that harm was done successful a two-game expanse complete nan Reds successful nan wild-card round.

The Dodgers’ discourtesy woke up successful Game 2. Bad news for Toronto.

Thirteen seasons and 373 profession appearances successful nan large leagues later, 34-year-old Kevin Gausman toed nan rubber successful a World Series crippled for nan first clip Saturday night.

Gausman, successful his 4th run pinch nan Blue Jays, saw Toronto’s erstwhile 2 playoff runs successful 2022 and ‘23 extremity pinch a expanse successful nan wild-card round, and past twelvemonth was a 74–88 dud—seasons he called “heartbreaking” and a “punch successful nan face,” according to Fox Sports newsman Ken Rosenthal. Well, connected Saturday night, Gausman punched back.

The seasoned surrendered 1 tally successful nan first inning connected Will Smith’s RBI azygous earlier locking successful and dominating for overmuch of nan night. Gausman didn’t let a azygous baserunner until Smith and Max Muncy went gait successful nan seventh, retiring 17 consecutive batters successful that span. In all, Gausman allowed 3 earned runs connected 4 hits pinch six strikeouts and nary walks successful 6 2/3 innings—his longest profession postseason appearance.

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