Yamamoto dazzles, Ohtani injured as Dodgers hold off Yankees 4-2

                                         Los Angeles Dodgers #37 Teoscar Hernandez (LF). Photo by TGSportstv1

LOS ANGELES, CA – Fresh off a wild adrenaline-filled victory Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers held on to beat the New York Yankees in another late-night barnburner, 4-1. Their win at Dodger Stadium \gives the Dodgers a commanding 2-0 series lead in the World Series as the matchup moves to New York for the next three games.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto picked up the win, silencing the Yankees’ powerful bats allowing only one hit, and striking out four in six-and-one-third innings. Carlos Rondon was pulled after giving up four runs over three-and-a-third innings with three strikeouts in the loss.

“Yamamoto tonight, from the first inning you can just tell he had the really lights out stuff like we saw in New York a few months ago,” said Freddie Freeman. “That’s what's going to win ball games.”

After a scoreless first inning by both clubs, NLCS MVP Tommy Edman put the Dodgers on the scoreboard first sending a four-seam fastball over the left field wall, giving the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Juan Soto answered back, blasting his fourth home run of the postseason in the top of the third inning. Soto took his time stepping out of the batter's box, extravagantly flipped his bat, and casually trotted around the bases, savoring the despair of the Dodger Stadium crowd.

Aaron Judge tried to follow suit, taking massive swings at a pair of Yamamoto pitches before flying out to end the inning. Judge had three strikeouts on the night, matching his Game One total.

Yamamoto’s slider, curveball, and splitter were all dancing around the strike zone all game leaving Yankees batters confused. It was especially impressive against arguably the best-hitting lineup in the league.

“Everything was good because the location and the height in the zone,” said Yamamoto of his pitching command. “Everything was working well today.”

Back and forth both teams went with home run champion Toescar Hernandez blasting a two-run missile that gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning with two outs.

Next up stepped Friday night’s hero as chants of “Freddie, Freddie” roared through the crowd. Facing a full count with two outs, Freeman blasted a 400-foot solo shot that found its home 15 rows deep in the Right Field Pavilion. The home run derby was on as the Dodgers took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third.

“Those six days off were huge for me in between the NLCS and the World Series,” said Freeman. “I was able to calm my ankle down.”

It was the first time Los Angeles hit back-to-back home runs in the World Series since their 1981 Championship when they beat the Yankees.

Edman was next to bat and while the shortstop couldn’t make it a home run hat trick, he sliced a double in center field to keep the Dodgers third inning-hit streak alive. The versatile shortstop proceeded to steal third base. After a mound visit and the bullpen beginning to warm up for the Yankees, Rondon settled down getting Kike Hernadez to fly out, ending the rally. 

In the top of the seventh inning, Anthony Banda came in to relieve Yamamoto with Roberts turning to his bullpen to close out the final two-plus innings.

Banda immediately established dominance with a pair of brushback pitches that had Yankees batters ducking for cover.

The bottom of the seventh inning turned sour for the Dodgers after Ohtani was walked. The nimble slugger attempted to steal second base but was caught stealing, grimacing on the ground in pain. Roberts and the Dodger trainer arrived as a hush swept over the crowd.

After lying on the ground for a couple of minutes, he eventually rose. Covered in dirt and pain lacing his face, he gingerly exited the field with what appeared to be a partially dislocated shoulder.

“We’re going to get some tests at some point tonight, tomorrow and we’ll know more in the next couple of days,” said Roberts after the game. “The strength was great, the range of motion good so we’re encouraged.”

More testing is planned over the next few days once they arrive in New York, but the preliminary analysis of Ohtani had encouraging results.

Both pitching staffs dealt five scoreless innings from the fourth inning until the ninth, a testament to the quality of both bullpens.

In the ninth inning, Soto lifted a 95-mph sinker off the outfield wall for a leadoff double. Next up was the gargantuan Judge looking to cut the lead to one with a swing of the bat. Michael Treinen had other plans for the slumping big man who struck out swinging at a wild sweeper. It was the sixth strikeout of the series for Judge who is sitting on a batting average of .111 through two games.

“I definitely got to step up and do my job,” said Judge. “Guys around me are doing their job getting on base and I’m failing them.”

Giancarlo Stanton was up next with the six-foot-six-inch San Fernando Valley native hoping to make it back-to-back games with homers. This time Treinen’s sinker met the end of Stanton's bat, rocketing up the third base line. The ball caromed off of the third base bag, shooting up in the air into the outfield scoring Soto cutting the lead in half, 4-2.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. then slapped a single to right field bringing the potential winning run to the plate. Trenin responded by plunking Anthony Rizzo loading the bases for the Yankees, eerily similar to last night's final moments.

The managers then made their chess moves with Roberts bringing in left-handed reliever Alex Vesia. New York countered with right-handed pinch hitter Jose Trevino.

Dodgers Stadium for the second straight night was on its feet for a bases-loaded moment in the final inning. Trevino blasted the first pitch he saw deep, steps from the warning track falling short of a game-winning Grand Slam, into the glove of Edman.

Vesia picked up the one-pitch save as the Dodgers took Game 2 with a 4-2 win.

The win is a testament to the prowess of Roberts who has cobbled together bullpen innings, and the bullpen games, and handles late-game scenarios masterfully this season for Los Angeles.

Additionally, the Dodgers have gotten quality starts from both their starting pitchers for two games allowing for more flexibility with a rested bullpen. Especially important with a bullpen game on tap for Game Four in New York.

Still, the Dodgers remain focused on the task ahead, knowing they’re only halfway to the promised land and have to power through the Bronx to get there.

“I’ve been on the other end of being down two games and have been able to come back,” said Mookie Betts. “I know they’re going to come out ready to go. We still have business to take care of.”

Betts is keenly aware of the intensity of playoff games in Yankee Stadium as the enemy, having faced them as a member of the Boston Red Sox in years past.

The Dodgers now head back to New York, this time the Bronx, to face off against the Yankees for the next three games. Walker Buehler will take the mound for the Dodgers against Clarke Schmidt, on Monday at Yankee Stadium.