Dodgers Take Game 2
The Dodgers won Game 2 of the 120th World Series, 4-2, behind a trio of homers from Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers claimed a 2-0 series lead, marking the fifth time that they have won each of the first two games in the World Series, joining: 1988, 1978, 1963 and 1956. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series in 1988 over the Athletics and 1963 over the Yankees (sweep). Previously, the Dodgers held a 2-0 lead over the Yankees in the World Series in 1978 (lost series 4-2), 1963 (swept series, 4-0) and 1956 (lost series, 4-3).
It is the ninth time that the Yankees face a 2-0 deficit in the World Series, joining: 2001, 1996, 1978, 1976, 1963, 1958, 1956 and 1922. They went on to win the Fall Classic in 1996 over the Braves; 1978 over the Dodgers; 1958 over the Braves; and 1956 over the Dodgers.
It is the 57th time that a club has taken a 2-0 advantage in the World Series, with that club going on to win Game 3 24 previous times (42.9%) and win the World Series 45 times (80.4%). The last club to take 2-0 World Series lead was the Nationals in 2019 as they went on to beat the Astros in 7 games.
Back-to-Back Homers
Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman launched back-to-back home runs in the third inning, marking the 19th time ever that a team hit back-to-back homers in the World Series. It is the first time since Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins went back-to-back for the Phillies in the fifth inning of Game 3 in 2022. It was the second time that the Dodgers hit back-to-back homers in the World Series after Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager went back-to-back in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the 1981 World Series, lifting a game-tying and go-ahead homer to claim a 2-1 win over the Yankees.
The blasts came with two outs, marking the fourth time in World Series history that a club hit back-to-back homers with two outs in the frame, joining: San Diego in the fifth inning of Game 1 in 1998; New York (AL) in the eighth inning in Game 5 in 1977; and Boston in the fourth inning in Game 6 in 1
Two Nights at Freddie’s
Freddie Freeman has now homered in the first two games of the World Series, becoming the first Dodgers player ever to homer in Games 1 and 2 of a World Series. According to Elias, Freeman is the 11th player to homer in both Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, joining: Hall of Famer David Ortiz (2013); Craig Monroe (2006); Barry Bonds (2002); Reggie Sanders (2002); Hall of Famer Ted Simmons (1982); Boog Powell (1970); Hank Bauer (1958); Dusty Rhodes (1954); Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane (1930); and Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (1929).
He is the seventh Dodgers player (eighth occurrence) to homer in back-to-back World Series games, joining: Justin Turner (G 3-4, 2020); Pedro Guerrero (G 5-6, 1981); Reggie Smith (G 5-6, 1977); Chuck Essegian (G2 and G6, 1959); Hall of Famer Duke Snider (2x; G 4-5, 1955 and G 5-6, 1952); and Hall of Famer Roy Campanella (G 3-4, 1955).
Along with his triple and walk-off grand slam last night, Freeman is just the second player ever with at least two homers and a triple within the first two games of a World Series, joining Hall of Famer Babe Ruth in 1923. Dating back to games 5 and 6 of the 2021 World Series with Atlanta, Freeman has homered in each of his last four World Series games. He is just the fourth player ever to homer in at least four consecutive World Series games, joining: George Springer, who homered in Games 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the 2017 World Series and Game 1 of the 2019 World Series; Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who homered in Games 4, 5 and 6 of the 1977 World Series and Game 1 of the 1978 World Series; and Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who homered in Games 2, 3 and 4 of the 1928 World Series and Game 1 of the 1932 World Series.
According to Sarah Langs, Freeman is the sixth player ever to hit multiple World Series homers with multiple World Series teams, joining: Corey Seager (LAD/TEX); Dave Henderson (BOS/OAK); Lenny Dykstra (PHI/NYM); Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson (OAK/NYY); and Reggie Smith (BOS/LAD)
Late Rally
The Yankees rallied in the ninth inning, as Juan Soto hit a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then came around to score on an RBI single by Giancarlo Stanton. One batter later, Jazz Chisholm Jr. knocked a single to right field to leave runners at first and third, with Chisholm representing the potential tying run. With one out, Anthony Rizzo was hit by pitch to load the bases for Anthony Volpe, who struck out for the second out. According to Sarah Langs, teams are 340-0 in the World Series when entering the ninth inning with a lead of at least three runs.
Edman Gets it Started
For the second straight night, the Dodgers scored first as Tommy Edman hit a solo home run in the second inning. With the homer, he extending his hitting streak to eight games over which he is batting .429 (15-for-35) with two homers, five doubles, seven runs scored, two stolen bases, a .417 on-base percentage and a 1.160 OPS. Edman is the sixth Dodgers player (seventh occurrence) with at hit in at least eight consecutive Postseason games, within a single Postseason, joining: Carl Crawford (10 G in 2013); Bill Russell (10 G in 1978); Steve Garvey (9 G in 1981); Ronnie Belliard (8 G in 2009); Manny Ramirez (8 G in 2008); Mickey Hatcher (8 G in 1988); and Russell (8 G in 1974). The Dodgers are now 7-1 when scoring first this Postseason and National League clubs are 215-116 when scoring first in the World Series.
Give it To ‘Em
Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed 6.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts as he claimed his second career Postseason win. It was the longest outing by a Japanese-born pitcher in the World Series, surpassing the previous record of 5.1 innings by Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game 3 of the 2007 World Series for Boston. Yamamoto is just the third ever Japanese-born pitcher to start a World Series game, joining Matsuzaka and Yu Darvish (G3 and G7, 2017). Yamamoto is one of five Japanese-born pitchers to make a start in the Postseason for the Dodgers, joining Darvish, Hiroki Kuroda, Kenta Maeda and Hideo Nomo.
The right-hander retired each of the last 11 batters that he faced following the home run to Juan Soto in the third inning. Per Elias, Yamamoto is the first pitcher to finish a World Series start with at least 11 consecutive batters retired since Cristian Javier retired each of his last 11 batters en route to helping Houston throw a combined no-hitter in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series. The last Dodger to retire at least each of his last 11 batters in the World Series was Walker Buehler, who retired his last 14 batters in a row in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series.
Yamamoto threw 86 pitches tonight, marking the first time he has thrown more than 80 pitches since June 7th, when he threw a career-high 106 pitches, coincidentally the last time he faced the Yankees.
Answer Back
Juan Soto answered back with a solo shot of his own in the third inning, launching a game-tying solo blast with two outs. Of his four homers this Postseason, three have put New York into the lead and one has tied the game. He is just the third Yankees player with four Postseason home runs in a single Postseason which has tied the game or put New York in the lead. Soto joins Giancarlo Stanton, who has four such homers this Postseason and Bernie Williams, who hit four such home runs in 1996. Overall, Soto is the 23rd player with four such homers in the Postseason and it is the 24th time that it has happened in a Postseason after Jose Altuve accomplished the feat in 2019 and 2020.
Stanton and Soto are just the second pair of teammates with at least four home runs to tie the game or take the lead, joining Altuve and Carlos Correa of the 2020 Astros, who also hit four such homers a piece. Overall, the Yankees have hit 10 home runs this Postseason that have tied the game or put them into the lead, the most of any club this October.
That was Quick
Tonight’s game was completed in two hours and fifty-three minutes (2:53), marking the second-fastest World Series game since the Pitch Clock was introduced last year, behind Game 3 of the 2023 World Series, which lasted two hours and fifty-one minutes (2:51). It was the shortest World Series Game for Los Angeles since Game 1 of the 2017 World Series, which was completed in two hours and twenty-eight minutes (2:28). It was the shortest World Series game for New York since Game 2 of the 2001 World Series, which finished in two hours and thirty-five minutes (2:35).
