Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named World Series MVP by the Los Angeles Dodgers with one of the greatest pitching performances in Fall Classic history, including an epic relief appearance in Game 7 on Saturday night.
Yamamoto pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the deciding game, a day after throwing 96 pitches in the Game 6 victory. He also threw a four-hitter in Game 2, the first complete game in the World Series since 2015.
“Yamamoto is the greatest of all time!” manager Dave Roberts shouted moments before the Dodgers hoisted the World Series trophy.
The 27-year-old Japanese ace worked his way out of a jam in the ninth inning, leaving the bases loaded and the score tied at 4. After dominating the 10th, he worked around Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s leadoff double to preserve a 5-4 lead and secure Los Angeles’ second consecutive championship.
Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325 million contract from Japan before last season, was 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 27-year-old pitcher struck out 15 and walked two in 17 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on 10 hits.
The right-hander’s pitch in Game 2 was his second consecutive complete game in the postseason. He retired the last 20 batters in the Dodgers victory 5-1.
This happened after a three-hit game against Milwaukee in the National League Championship Series he first complete postseason game in eight years .
No pitcher had completed a game in the World Series since Kansas City’s Johnny Cueto pitched a two-hitter against the New York Mets in Game 2 of the 2015 World Series.
Yamamoto wasn’t as sharp in Game 6, allowing one run and five hits in six innings, while Los Angeles won 3-1 to force Game 7 .
Including a win in Game 2 of last year’s World Series against the New York Yankees, Yamamoto is 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA in four World Series appearances.
Arizona ace Curt Schilling was the last pitcher to throw consecutive complete games in the postseason, pitching three in a row in the 2001 National League Division Series and National League Championship Series.
Orel Hershiser had been the last Dodgers pitcher with an individual World Series performance, in Games 2 and 5 against Oakland in 1988. Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax pitched two complete World Series games in 1963 and 1965.
Yamamoto pitched 12 complete games in his final three seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Pacific League before joining the Dodgers.
