Tokyo 2020 Olympics and WBSC Premier12 winner Yoshinobu Yamamoto turns in sensational performance during MLB World Series

Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold medalist and WBSC Premier12 2019 winner Yoshinobu Yamamoto made history in Game Two of the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series. The 27-year-old Japanese superstar, who joined the Dodgers on a record contract in December 2023, led Los Angeles to a 5-1 win by pitching a complete-game gem. He allowed just a run on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts, and retired each of the last 20 batters he faced. Yamamoto, who went nine innings in Game Two of the National League Championship Series, leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 win against the Milwaukee Brewers, became the first pitcher to throw a complete game in successive postseason starts since the Diamondbacks’ Curt Schilling in 2001.

"I was trying to go into the game relaxed, but it's a World Series," the MLB website quoted Yamamoto. "Kind of early on, I was throwing with unnecessary tension. I just adjusted that as the game went on."

With the Dodgers leading 1-0, the "unnecessary tension" brought Yamamoto to hit a batter and allow a hit (to Vlad Guerrero Jr.) in the bottom of the third. The Blue Jays tied the game on Alejandro Kirk's sacrifice fly. Guerrero would be the last Blue Jay to reach base against Yamamoto.

Yamamoto and Toronto's starter Kevin Gausman took the tie into the seventh. Will Smith hit a one-out solo homer to give Los Angeles a new lead, and Max Muncy gave the Dodgers their third run on another solo shot. Los Angeles would add two insurance runs in the top of the eighth.

The Blue Jays won Game One, 11-4, thanks to a nine-inning sixth inning rally capped by pinch hitter Addison Barger's grand slam off veteran reliever Anthony Banda.

The best-of-seven series is now tied at one apiece. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow will take the mound for Los Angeles today at 8 pm (US Eastern Time) for Game Three at Dodger Stadium. The Blue Jays will hand the ball to right-hander Max Scherzer.