MILWAUKEE — Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered one of the greatest postseason performances in recent memory Tuesday night, joining an elite club of pitchers in Major League Baseball history. The Japanese right-hander threw a complete-game masterpiece that lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field and secured a commanding 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.
What made the performance extraordinary was how it began—with a home run on his very first pitch. Yet by the end of nine innings, Yamamoto had completely silenced Milwaukee’s bats and etched his name into baseball lore.
Historic comeback after early setback
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
The game opened with a jolt as Jackson Chourio launched Yamamoto’s first pitch into the right-field bullpen, putting Milwaukee ahead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. For a brief moment, it seemed like the Brewers had cracked the Dodgers’ pitching dominance.
But that proved to be their lone moment of joy. Yoshinobu Yamamoto regrouped and dominated the rest of the night. Across the next eight innings, he allowed just two more hits and struck out seven. His control and poise were unshakable.
The outing placed him among rare company. Yamamoto became only the fourth pitcher in postseason history to surrender a leadoff homer and still finish a complete game. The others were Johnny Antonelli in the 1954 World Series, Johnny Beazley in 1942, and Babe Adams back in 1909. Only Yamamoto and Antonelli went on to hold opponents scoreless after that opening hit.
“Got punched in the mouth first pitch of the game. Good swing by him,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said. “But to get 27 outs after that, that was impressive. What he did tonight, that was just domination.”
Yamamoto’s mental reset proves crucial for Dodgers
The 26-year-old ace didn’t let that early blow affect him. Instead, he steadied himself, showing the kind of mental toughness that defines postseason greatness.
“That was the first hitter,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “And I feel regrettable, that home run, but I reset my mind and then I just focused on executing my own pitches.”
It was a stark contrast to what happened when he last faced Milwaukee on July 7. That day, he managed just two outs and gave up five runs. Tuesday’s performance highlighted how much he has grown, mastering not only his stuff but also his composure.
His effort marked the first complete game in MLB’s postseason since Justin Verlander did it for Houston in the 2017 ALCS. For the Dodgers, it was their first postseason complete game since Jose Lima’s shutout of the Cardinals in the 2004 NLDS.
Japanese star makes more history
Yamamoto also became the first Japanese-born pitcher ever to record a complete game in MLB postseason history. The achievement adds another chapter to his already illustrious résumé, which includes three Eiji Sawamura Awards and three Pacific League MVP honors during his time in Japan.
“It’s kind of scary to think that he’s a three-time Cy Young winner over there, and he just comes over here and just keeps getting better,” Kike Hernandez said. “It’s been impressive to watch, and I’m just really proud of him.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts watched with admiration as Yamamoto executed a flawless plan across 111 pitches. He blended his arsenal beautifully, relying on his devastating splitter for eight swing-and-misses and increasing his curveball usage to 27 pitches—matching the number of four-seam fastballs he threw.
Investment paying massive dividends
When the Dodgers committed $325 million over 12 years to bring Yamamoto to Los Angeles before the 2024 season, some questioned the gamble. But those doubts have vanished. Through three postseason starts this October, Yamamoto owns a 1.83 ERA—proof that the Dodgers’ record-setting investment has paid off.
He and Blake Snell have formed a formidable one-two punch that Milwaukee simply hasn’t solved. Snell’s Game 1 outing set the tone, when he went eight innings, faced just 24 batters, and struck out 10. Together, they have overpowered a Brewers lineup known for its patience and power.
“We’ve been the best in baseball at not chasing pitches,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “These pitchers brought out the worst in us.”
Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw, watching from the dugout, offered his own assessment of the Brewers’ struggles. “Contact’s not a problem when you have good pitching, it’s hard contact that’s the problem. They’re not giving up any of that,” Kershaw said. “Good pitching beats good hitting any day of the week, and you’re seeing that right now.”
Offense provides timely support
AP Photo/Morry Gash
The Dodgers’ bats backed up their ace at the right moments. Teoscar Hernandez erased Chourio’s early home run with one of his own in the second inning—his fourth of this postseason. Andy Pages followed with an RBI double in the same frame, giving Los Angeles a 2-1 lead they never relinquished.
In the sixth, Max Muncy connected on a solo homer to center that just cleared the glove of Milwaukee outfielder Sal Frelick. That extended the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1.
Shohei Ohtani, who had been struggling at the plate with a .138 postseason average entering the night, added a critical RBI single in the seventh inning. Tommy Edman later chipped in with an RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring and ensure Yamamoto’s victory.
Freddy Peralta took the loss for Milwaukee, giving up three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Dominant rotation creates huge advantage
Los Angeles’ rotation has been so effective that its bullpen has barely been used. Across the first two games of the NLCS, Dodgers relievers have thrown just one inning combined. That efficiency leaves the bullpen fully rested as the series shifts back to Dodger Stadium.
Yamamoto retired the final 14 Brewers he faced, striking out Andrew Vaughn to end the game. The crowd that had been roaring after the first-pitch homer sat silent by the ninth inning, watching history unfold.
“Those guys take a lead, and we just don’t panic,” Roberts said. “We keep taking our at-bats. And Yamamoto resets and manages that inning. There’s a lot of talent in the room.”
Game 3 will move to Los Angeles on Thursday, with Tyler Glasnow set to start for the Dodgers against Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski.
For Yamamoto, the night represented more than just a win—it was a defining moment in a career already filled with milestones. His complete-game effort will stand as one of the grittiest and most dominant postseason performances ever witnessed, proving once again that elite pitching can change the course of October baseball.
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