Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a three-hit complete game as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series. It was the first postseason complete game in eight years, with the Japanese right-hander allowing only a lead-off home run to Jackson Chourio before shutting down the Brewers over 111 pitches.
Yamamoto's gem followed Blake Snell's one-hit, eight-inning performance in Game 1, giving Dodgers starters a 1.54 ERA this postseason. Manager Dave Roberts said, 'Our entire team is playing the best baseball we've played all year. We're peaking at the right time.' The Dodgers have seven quality starts in eight playoff games, a stark contrast to last year's reliance on a short bullpen.
Max Muncy set a Dodgers record with his 14th career postseason home run, while Teoscar Hernández also went deep. The victory came despite Shohei Ohtani's slump, with the three-time MVP going 2 for 25 over his last six games. The Dodgers are 7-1 in the postseason after winning nine of their last 11 regular-season games.
The Brewers, who led the majors with 97 wins, have managed only five hits in the series. Manager Pat Murphy acknowledged the deficit: 'You guys might have us counted out. But this team has been counted out a lot this year.' Chourio's lead-off homer was his fourth this postseason, tying a club record.
This is the first time since 1970 that both League Championship Series road teams have started 2-0. The Seattle Mariners also hold a 2-0 lead over Toronto in the American League Championship Series. Game 3 shifts to Los Angeles on Thursday.
