Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a complete game of 9 innings as the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the series.

In the second game of the MLB National League Championship Series playoffs today (15th), the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers. Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an outstanding performance, pitching a full 9 innings with 111 pitches, allowing only 3 hits and 1 run, striking out 7. With home runs from Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy, plus offensive support from Andy Pages, Shohei Ohtani, and Tommy Edman, the Dodgers defeated the Brewers 5-1, taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

At the start, Shohei Ohtani stepped up to bat first but struggled against Brewers' starter Freddy Peralta, continuing his recent hitting slump and striking out after just 5 pitches. Mookie Betts then drew a walk, but Freddie Freeman and Will Smith failed to capitalize, leaving the Dodgers scoreless in the first inning.

On the other hand, Brewers' leadoff hitter Jackson Chourio targeted Yamamoto’s first fastball and confidently launched a solo home run over the right-field wall, igniting the home crowd early in the game.

In the second inning, the Dodgers responded. After one out, "Spanish teacher" Teoscar Hernández precisely timed Peralta’s curveball and powerfully sent it over the left-field wall for a solo home run, tying the game. Peralta then appeared rattled, giving up hits to Enrique Hernández and Pages, allowing another run and giving the Dodgers the lead.

In the bottom half, the Dodgers' defense briefly faltered. Muncy and starter Yamamoto both made defensive errors (with Muncy charged with one), allowing Brewers runners to reach base. However, the Dodgers quickly regained composure and prevented the Brewers from extending their momentum, successfully escaping the threat.

Both teams' pitchers then displayed strong control, allowing only scattered hits. In the top of the fifth, Peralta faced Ohtani for the third time and struck him out with just four pitches, further lowering Ohtani’s batting average.

The score changed again in the sixth inning. With two outs, Muncy, who had failed to homer the previous day resulting in a double play, connected solidly with a fastball in the strike zone from Peralta, sending a solo home run to center field that forced Peralta out of the game. Replacement pitcher Abner Uribe allowed a hit to Teoscar Hernández and, due to a throwing error, let the batter reach second base, but he struck out Edman at a critical moment to end the threat.

In the top of the seventh, the Dodgers advanced runners into scoring position thanks to a long hit by Enrique Hernández and a sacrifice bunt by Pages. Then Ohtani took advantage of the Brewers’ pitching change and hit a line drive off Aaron Ashby, adding an insurance run for the Dodgers and ending his recent three-game hitless streak. In the bottom of the inning, Yamamoto dominated, retiring all three batters with only 13 pitches to complete seven innings.

In the top of the eighth, the Dodgers extended their lead further, aided by a walk from Smith, a hit from Muncy, and a timely hit by Edman. Although the Dodgers loaded the bases afterward, Ohtani struck out against Robert Gasser and missed the chance to add more runs. In the bottom of the eighth, Yamamoto continued pitching, striking out pinch hitter Isaac Collins with an outside fastball, then inducing groundouts from Chourio and Brice Turang to retire the side and maintain a perfect inning.

As the game neared its end, the Dodgers faced a bases-loaded situation with no outs but prevented the Brewers from scoring. Yamamoto held firm, first retiring William Contreras on a fly ball, then Christian Yelich on a groundout, and finally striking out Andrew Vaughn with his signature splitter, securing a 5-1 victory for the Dodgers.

Notably, this was Yamamoto’s first career complete game since joining MLB, and it happened on the big stage of the National League Championship Series’ second game. The Dodgers had not had a postseason pitcher complete a game since Jose Lima in 2004.

The third game will take place at 6:08 AM on the 17th at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Dodgers will send Tyler Glasnow to defend their home field, while the Brewers have yet to announce their starting pitcher.