The Los Angeles Dodgers seized control of the National League Championship Series with a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 on Tuesday, riding Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s complete-game gem to take a 2-0 series lead. Yamamoto’s stellar outing, which included seven strikeouts and only one run allowed, followed Blake Snell’s eight-inning shutout in Game 1, marking the first time Dodgers starters have thrown at least eight innings in consecutive playoff games since 1988.
The game began dramatically as Brewers rookie Jackson Chourio launched Yamamoto’s first pitch for a solo home run, electrifying the home crowd at American Family Field. However, the Dodgers quickly silenced the noise in the second inning when Teoscar Hernandez answered with a solo homer of his own, atoning for a baserunning mistake in Game 1. Andy Pages followed with an RBI double to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead, and the Dodgers never looked back, showcasing their ability to respond under pressure.
Yamamoto, who had struggled in his previous start against the Phillies, was nearly flawless after the first inning, surrendering just three more hits and a walk over the remainder of the game. His complete game was the first by a Dodgers pitcher in the postseason in over two decades, highlighting his dominance and the rotation’s overall strength, which has posted a 1.54 ERA this playoffs. This performance underscored why he was a Cy Young Award contender during the regular season.
Max Muncy provided insurance with a solo home run in the sixth inning, a 412-foot blast that set a new Dodgers franchise record for postseason homers with 14. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani, mired in a postseason slump, broke through with an RBI single in the seventh, though he remains just 2-for-25 since the NLDS began. The bottom of the Dodgers’ order was particularly productive, accounting for seven of the team’s 11 hits, demonstrating the lineup’s depth.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy expressed frustration after the game, noting that his hitters chased pitches more than they had all season, a testament to the Dodgers’ pitching prowess. Chourio’s home run tied him with Prince Fielder and Orlando Arcia for the most in Brewers postseason history, but Milwaukee’s offense otherwise sputtered, managing only one run in each of the first two games. Freddy Peralta started for the Brewers but was outdueled by Yamamoto, exiting after Muncy’s homer.
With the series moving to Dodger Stadium for Games 3 and 4, the Brewers face a steep uphill battle. The Dodgers are set to start Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani, both of whom pose significant challenges for Milwaukee’s lineup. The Brewers must find a way to solve Los Angeles’ pitching quickly, as the Dodgers’ championship experience and home-field advantage make them favorites to close out the series.
In summary, the Dodgers’ pitching dominance has been the story of the NLCS so far, with Yamamoto’s complete game serving as a crowning achievement. If they continue this level of performance, a return to the World Series seems likely, while the Brewers must engineer a remarkable turnaround to keep their season alive. The stage is set for a pivotal Game 3 in Los Angeles.