Toronto — yoshinobu yamamoto Was named World Series MVP for los angeles dodgers One of the greatest pitching performances in Fall Classic history, including an epic relief appearance in Game 7 on Saturday night.
Yamamoto pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings in the clincher, a day after throwing 96 pitches in a Game 6 win. He also threw a four-hitter in Game 2, his first complete game in the World Series since 2015.
“Yamamoto is the GOAT!” yelled manager Dave Roberts moments before the Dodgers hoisted the World Series trophy.
Yamamoto, 27, got out of a jam in the ninth inning, with the bases loaded and the score tied at 4. After pitching in the 10th inning, he worked Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Key’s leadoff double to preserve the lead at 5–4 and capture LA’s second consecutive championship.
Signed to a 12-year, $325 million contract by Japan before last season, Yamamoto was 3–0 with a 1.09 ERA. toronto blue jaysHe struck out 15 and walked two in 17⅔ innings, giving up two runs and 10 hits.
The right-hander’s Game 2 gem was his second consecutive complete game in the postseason. He retired the last 20 batters in a 5–1 Dodgers victory.
This came after a three-hitter against Milwaukee in the National League Championship Series, his first complete game in the postseason in eight years.
No pitcher had gone that far since Kansas City’s Johnny Cueto pitched a two-hitter in the Fall Classic. New York Mets In Game 2 of the 2015 World Series.
Yamamoto was not as sharp in Game 6, allowing one run and five hits in six innings as Los Angeles won 3–1 to force a Game 7.
Including the win in Game 2 of last year’s World Series against New York YankeesYamamoto is 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA in four Fall Classic appearances.
Arizona veteran Curt Schilling was the last pitcher to throw consecutive complete games in the postseason, having thrown three consecutive games in the 2001 NL Division Series and NLCS.
Orel Hershiser was the last Dodgers pitcher with a solo series effort in Games 2 and 5 against Oakland in 1988. Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax pitched two Series complete games in each of 1963 and 1965.
Yamamoto played 12 complete games over his last three seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Pacific League before joining the Dodgers.
