Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one hit over 6 1/3 innings, retiring the final 11 batters he faced, as the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees, 4-2, Saturday evening in Game 2 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers hit three home runs, including back-to-back shots by Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman in the third inning, to take a two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-seven series.
Game 3 will be played Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Yamamoto did not allow a baserunner after Juan Soto hit a four-seam fastball 386 feet over the right field fence in the third inning, tying the score, 1-1. Yamamoto (2-0) struck out four and walked two as the Dodgers won for the fourth time in his four postseason starts.
Relievers Anthony Banda and Michael Kopech held the Yankees hitless over the next 1 2/3 innings, with Banda hitting Anthony Rizzo with a pitch for New York’s only baserunner over that span.
Blake Treinen allowed a leadoff single to Soto in the ninth. Soto advanced to second on Blake Treinen’s wild pitch and scored one out later when Giancarlo Stanton’s ground ball hit third base, popped into the air and went into left field.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed with a single and Treinen hit Rizzo with a full-count four-seam fastball to load the bases.
Alex Vesia relieved Treinen and retired pinch-hitter Jose Trevino on a fly out to center fielder Tommy Edman for his first save of the postseason.
The Dodgers opened the scoring in the second on Edman’s home run.
Left-hander Carlos Rodón (1-2), the first of five Yankee pitchers, was charged with the loss, allowing four runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking three.
There was concern about whether Dodger slugger Shoei Ohtani would be available for Game 3, after injuring his shoulder attempting to steal second base in the seventh inning. He remained on the ground after being tagged on the slide, clutching his left arm and wincing in pain before being led off the field by trainers. The severity of the injury wasn’t immediately clear.
In his post-game press conference, manager Dave Roberts said the initial tests were encouraging. “Obviously, when you get any one of your players that goes down, it’s concerning,” Roberts said. “But after the range of motion, the strength tests, I felt much better about it.”
Roberts said additional test results should be available in a day or two.