Dodgers Lead World Series 2-0 After Yamamoto's Stellar Performance in Game 2

 LOS ANGELES -- For the second consecutive night, the World Series concluded with a dramatic bases-loaded scenario for the trailing team. This time, however, there were no last-minute heroics to be found.

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia secured a 4-2 victory on Saturday night, inducing New York Yankees pinch hitter Jose Trevino to fly out to center field. This win marked the Dodgers' second in a row, putting them ahead 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, with Game 3 set for Monday in New York.

Similar to Yankees reliever Nestor Cortes, who surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman in Game 1, Vesia was returning from an injury that sidelined him during the NLCS. He managed to shake off the rust after an inning of work on Friday and was called upon to relieve righty Blake Treinen, who had loaded the bases with two singles and a hit-by-pitch.

Trevino, like Freeman, was aggressive early, attempting to capitalize on a first-pitch fastball but only managed to pop it up, landing 345 feet away into the glove of center fielder Tommy Edman.

The crowd of 52,725 at Dodger Stadium collectively exhaled as Vesia celebrated the crucial out.

"It all happened pretty fast," Vesia remarked post-game. "With the bases loaded and two outs, starting the hitter 1-0 gives the advantage to the hitter. I wanted to attack my strengths and execute a pitch."

Vesia's inner-half four-seam fastball was effective, highlighting a night characterized by strong pitching from the typically offense-driven Dodgers, who may have lost star designated hitter Shohei Ohtani to a shoulder injury.

Before this game, the Dodgers had scored six or more runs in six of their past seven postseason outings, and it appeared they would continue that trend after Edman, Teoscar Hernandez, and Freeman each homered in the second and third innings. However, they did not score again, relying on starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing his best outing since defeating the Yankees in early June.

"That was an incredible start for Yamamoto," Treinen praised. "It's likely one of the best starts of this postseason for sure."

Yamamoto pitched 6⅓ innings, allowing just one hit—a solo home run to Juan Soto—while walking two and striking out four, including Aaron Judge twice. His five-pitch arsenal was effective as he returned to form after dealing with an arm injury in August and September. Earlier postseason appearances had been short-lived, but in Game 2, he threw 86 efficient pitches with impressive movement.

"By the time I came off the IL, I was pretty much back to where I was before," Yamamoto explained through a translator. "As I pitched in games, I improved."

The Yankees struggled against Yamamoto all night. He mixed 42 fastballs with 21 curves, 11 splitters, eight sliders, and four cutters, throwing 54 of his 86 pitches for strikes.

"He's really good," Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo remarked. "He's electric. His splitter seems to move in three different ways. He throws strikes and maintains his composure. I can see why he has succeeded in Japan and here this year."

Manager Aaron Boone noted, "It was tough to be patient when he was aggressive and getting ahead."

Yamamoto was a significant offseason acquisition for the Dodgers, signing a 12-year, $325 million deal. Although he took time to find his rhythm, he eventually brought his ERA down to under 3.00 by June, shortly after a dominant performance against the Yankees. He had struggled with injuries but is now a key asset for the Dodgers as they advance through the playoffs.

"There wasn’t much stress in the game," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "He hasn’t pitched into the seventh inning since that Yankee game [in June]. We had a solid building-block foundation."

Yamamoto exited to a standing ovation in the seventh and is poised to pitch Game 6, if necessary, on an extra day of rest. His performance comes amid uncertainty for the Dodgers regarding Ohtani, who is set for an MRI on Sunday to assess his shoulder injury. However, the Dodgers remain optimistic about their chances even if Ohtani is sidelined.

"Absolutely," Teoscar Hernandez affirmed. "We’ve been battling through a lot of injuries all year. First, it was the starting pitcher, then Mookie, and then Freddie. Hopefully, Ohtani isn't added to that list."

With Jack Flaherty's strong performance in Game 1 and Yamamoto's in Game 2, Hernandez might be correct about the Dodgers' potential if Ohtani is unavailable. While they might miss some offensive firepower, their starting pitching depth is becoming more apparent at a critical time in the playoffs.

"The last two nights, everyone said we might not have the starting arms to make a run in the World Series," Treinen said, "but what Jack did yesterday and Yamamoto in his first World Series game was really impressive."

Yanks' Aaron Judge Struggles in Game 2

LOS ANGELES -- When Aaron Judge is at his best, he dominates pitchers with an intensity reminiscent of Barry Bonds at his peak. In the New York Yankees' 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night, Judge faced a 2-0 fastball from Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the sixth inning—an offering he would typically crush. But instead of capitalizing, Judge stood still as it was called a strike.

"When we're firing on all cylinders, we can usually capitalize on that," Judge said.

After fouling off the next pitch, a low curveball he usually devours, Judge fell victim to a devastating splitter that darted under his hands, resulting in a swing-and-miss for strike three. This marked a concerning trend for Judge and the Yankees during October.

Judge ended the night 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, leaving him with just one hit in nine World Series at-bats and an alarming total of six strikeouts in the series. Overall, he has struggled significantly this postseason, hitting only .150 with 19 strikeouts across 50 plate appearances.

"My focus is on swinging at strikes and finding a pitch to drive," Judge said. "In the postseason, pitchers will make their pitches, and you have to be patient. Right now, I need to do a better job."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes Judge is expanding his strike zone, a result of timing issues. Judge acknowledged that he is "getting close" to fixing his mechanics.

He compared his current struggles to those he experienced at the start of the season, where he hit .197/.331/.393 through early May. He rebounded from that slump, finishing the regular season on a tear with a .357 batting average and 52 home runs over 125 games.

"With a player like that, it could take just one at-bat to get him going," said Yankees right fielder Juan Soto, who contributed two hits, including a home run, in Game 2.

Yankees hitting coach James Rowson noted that Judge is "grinding," emphasizing that the pressure of the World Series might be contributing to his anxiety at the plate.

"He wants to perform well, and that can lead to pressing a bit more," Rowson said. "We have three home games coming up, which should help him feel more at ease."

Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. echoed this sentiment, stating, "We're all a little anxious; it's our first World Series. I believe once we get home, he'll regain confidence in front of our fans."

Judge has whiffed on 32 of his 59 swings (54%) over the last five games, a staggering rate for someone who led the majors in several offensive categories. With 13 strikeouts in that span, he’s hit a rough patch not seen since mid-2021.

While Judge struggles, teammates like Giancarlo Stanton and Soto have stepped up. Stanton has six home runs and a 1.098 OPS this postseason, while Soto is batting .350 with four home runs. The Yankees are now relying on Judge, hoping he returns to form to maximize their championship aspirations.

"He's going to help us win games here," Stanton predicted.