Following the Dodgers’ stunning come-from-behind, 11-inning victory over the Blue Jays in Game 7 to win the World Series on Saturday night at Rogers Centre, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named Series MVP thanks to a heroic effort that ended with him on the mound to close it out.
Yamamoto became the first pitcher since the D-backs’ Randy Johnson in 2001 to win three games in a World Series, and he became the first pitcher to win three road games in the Fall Classic. He is also the fourth pitcher in history to win Game 6 and Game 7 in a World Series, joining Johnson (2001), Harry Brecheen (1946) and Ray Kremer (1925). Yamamoto is the first to ever do so on the road.
Yamamoto tossed a complete game in Game 2 of the Series (his second consecutive complete game going back to the National League Championship Series), yielding just one run on four hits while walking none and striking out eight. He then threw six stellar innings in a Game 6 victory with the Dodgers facing elimination.
In Game 7 on Saturday night, Yamamoto came on for the final 2 2/3 innings to close out the clincher. It was reminiscent of such historic World Series performances as Madison Bumgarner’s exploits in the 2014 World Series for the Giants — in which he also closed out Game 7 — and Johnson’s Game 7 win for the D-backs in 2001.
Despite being on zero days’ rest, Yamamoto entered Game 7 in the ninth inning in relief of Blake Snell — who himself was the Dodgers’ fifth pitcher of the contest following a start by Shohei Ohtani and middle relief from Justin Wrobleski, Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan.
With runners at first and second and one out, Yamamoto hit Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk with a pitch to load the bases, but then induced a ground ball off the bat of Daulton Varsho that second baseman Miguel Rojas — who hit a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth — gloved and threw home for the forceout.
The next batter, Ernie Clement, hit a deep fly ball to left-center field that was caught by Andy Pages in a tremendous game-saving play to end the threat.
With a beleaguered bullpen that was seen as the weak link for the defending World Series champions entering this Fall Classic, manager Dave Roberts needed as much as Yamamoto could give him with the title on the line.
Yamamoto came back out for the 10th inning, retiring the side in order. In the 11th, following a go-ahead homer in the top of the inning by batterymate Will Smith, Yamamoto faced more adversity. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened the frame with a double and moved to third on a bunt by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Yamamoto then walked Addison Barger to put runners on the corners.
With the tying run 90 feet away and the winning run on first base, Yamamoto bore down, and despite having thrown six innings the night before, he pushed through to induce a World Series-ending double play off the bat of Kirk.
Overall, Yamamoto pitched 17 2/3 innings in the World Series, and he gave up just two runs (1.20 ERA) on nine hits, walking one and striking out 14. It capped a magnificent postseason for the Japanese right-hander, who went 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA over 37 1/3 innings.
