The Los Angeles Dodgers seized a commanding 2-0 lead in the 2024 World Series with a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday night. Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an extraordinary performance, allowing just one hit over 6 1/3 innings, while Freddie Freeman continued his power surge with a home run for the second consecutive night. The Dodgers now head to New York with momentum on their side—but face questions about the availability of Shohei Ohtani, who partially dislocated his shoulder sliding into second base.
Yamamoto, who signed with the Dodgers last winter for a record-breaking $325 million contract, proved his worth once again, shutting down the Yankees lineup and outdueling Carlos Rodón. The rookie right-hander allowed only Juan Soto’s third-inning homer and settled into a rhythm, retiring his last 11 batters before departing. Yamamoto used a five-pitch mix, including sharp curveballs and devastating splitters, to record four strikeouts and two walks, keeping the Yankees off balance throughout.
This performance marked a milestone in Yamamoto’s young MLB career, as he returned to form after missing nearly three months with a rotator cuff strain. His outing on Saturday was his best since his injury, and he now holds a 2-0 record in four postseason starts. Impressively, he’s allowed only one run in 13 1/3 innings across two starts against the Yankees this season.
Freddie Freeman set the tone for the Dodgers offense with a first-inning solo shot, adding to his stellar postseason production. This was Freeman’s second home run in as many games, providing the Dodgers with a crucial early lead. Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández added homers of their own off Rodón, who became the second Yankees pitcher in World Series history to allow three home runs in a single game.
Rodón’s struggles against the Dodgers lineup marked a setback for the Yankees, who hoped their pitching staff could contain L.A.’s balanced offense. His inability to keep the ball in the park proved costly, and the Yankees now find themselves facing a tough road to climb back into the series.
Held to one hit before the ninth inning, the Yankees rallied in a last-ditch effort. Giancarlo Stanton’s RBI single off the third-base bag closed the gap to 4-2 and brought the Yankee Stadium crowd to life. Soto’s single off the right-field wall earlier in the inning provided a spark, and with Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s single and Anthony Rizzo getting hit by a pitch, the Yankees loaded the bases with a chance to shift momentum.
However, with the pressure on, Blake Treinen struck out Anthony Volpe, and Alex Vesia came in to seal the Dodgers’ win, inducing a first-pitch flyout from pinch-hitter Jose Trevino to notch his first postseason save.
While the Dodgers celebrated their victory, Ohtani’s injury clouded their outlook. Ohtani, who has been instrumental both on the mound and at the plate, partially dislocated his left shoulder while sliding into second base. His status for the upcoming games is uncertain, which could have a significant impact on the Dodgers’ depth and flexibility. The Dodgers will be hoping for a speedy recovery as they prepare for Game 3 in New York.
Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ captain and regular-season MVP candidate, has struggled mightily in this series. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Saturday, dropping his World Series average to .111 (1-for-9). Judge’s postseason woes have continued, as he’s now hitting just .150 with six RBIs and 19 strikeouts in 40 at-bats.
Juan Soto provided a lone bright spot for the Yankees offense, launching his fourth postseason homer off Yamamoto and later adding a single. However, without consistent contributions from Judge and the rest of the lineup, the Yankees’ chances of overcoming the Dodgers appear slim.
With their Game 2 victory, the Dodgers hold a 2-0 lead heading into Yankee Stadium for Game 3 on Monday night. History is on their side: of the 56 teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in the World Series, 45 have gone on to claim the title. The Yankees will look to rally at home, but they’ll need to find answers against a Dodgers team firing on all cylinders.
