For the game two match against the left-handed Carlos Rodon, Dave Roberts makes some changes to the lineup: Teoscar Hernandez moves up one spot in the lineup with Freddie Freeman, the hero of game one, “demoted” to the cleanup hitter position; Tommy Edman also moves up, inserted in the fifth spot of the lineup and in the role of center fielder, with Miguel Rojas, last in line, taking over the role of shortstop. Max Muncy also comes down, batting seventh in front of catcher Will Smith, while Kiké Hernandez sits at second base. No changes however regarding the offensive and defensive deployment of the Yankees against the starter Yoshinobu Yamamotowho, immediately following a performance by rap singer Ice Cube, starts the game by awarding a base ball in six pitches to the leadoff hitter Gleyber Torresand then closed the Yankees attack not without difficulty, also obtaining a strikeout, with a full count, on Aaron Judge.
Similar start for Carlos Rodonwho found the first out after just one throw up Shohei Ohtaniis committed for six pitches by Mookie Betts who finds a valid right without consequences, because the sprints of Teoscar Hernandez e Freddie Freeman are collected on the fly by Juan Soto e Anthony Rizzo.
Yamamoto concedes a base ball in five pitches to Anthony Rizzo but manages to limit the lower part of the New York lineup without problems. The game changes face with the change of field with the first batter of the second half, Tommy Edmanwho proves himself to be a terrible threat to left-handed hitters by sending a 95mph fastball thrown to the inside edge by Carlos Rodon out of bounds.
Right in the best moment of Yamamoto, who started the third inning with two quick outs on Verdugo and Torres, the champion’s hit brings the Yankees back to parity: the game is tied Juan Soto who discards a gift from the Japanese ace (95mph fastball thrown to half height) to make it disappear beyond the right fielder.
Yamamoto does not waver and with the volley of Mookie Betts on a fly ball by Aaron Judge inaugurates a streak of eleven consecutive outs – with three strikeouts on Rizzo, Volpe and Judge – to accompany the Dodgers until the start of the seventh inning. The Dodgers do not bow and in the bottom of the third inning they find the strength to turn the game around by hitting Carlos Rodon again: with two outs, Mookie Betts hits his second hit of the day and a little later Teoscar Hernandez he deposits a high, outside fastball, thrown on a 1-0 count, over the right-center fielder’s wall while, a few moments later, Freddie Freeman he forces Rodon to the full count and then signs the 4-1 by sending a high, inside fastball past the right fielder. For the author of the walk-off grand slam in game one, this is the fourth consecutive World Series game (since 2021) with a home run, while Carlos Rodon, who after continuing by collecting a double from Edman was then able to navigate to the bottom of the fourth inning, becomes the first Yankees pitcher since 1977 to allow three home runs in a World Series game (Catfish Hunter in game two).
I rilievi Yankees Cousins, Hill e Holmes they close ranks responding to Yamamoto and Anthony Banda who, having entered with one out in the top of the seventh, ruined his streak of twelve consecutive outs by hitting Anthony Rizzo. To the field change and Dodgers I forgive Shohei Ohtaniwho, after earning a base on balls, with two outs and during Teoscar Hernandez’s turn at bat decides to try to steal second base. However, during the slide, he places his left shoulder badly and, dragging it, injures himself which forces him to leave the role of DH. Adding insult to injury: Ohtani was eliminated, forcing the Dodgers to give up a good offensive opportunity.
Dave Roberts calls into question Michael Kopech in the eighth inning, and, with a perfect inning, brings the Dodgers one step closer to victory. In the ninth on the mountain for the Los Angelenos it rises Blake Treinen who is not in the best of his evenings. Juan Sotoauthor of the home run in the third inning and the only Yankees with a hit under his belt, welcomes him with a long turn solved, after six pitches and with a 2-2 count, with a long single to right. A strikeout against Judge puts the Dodgers back in good position, but a stolen base and the subsequent hit by Stanton which hits the cushion at third allow the Yankees to shorten the lead 4-2. Treinen gets into trouble and suffers a hit with a full count from Jazz Chisholmfills the bases by hitting Rizzo before finding the second out by striking out Anthony Volpe. Tensions skyrocket when Dave Roberts, manager of the Dodgers, decides to take over the closer with the lefty Alex Vesia. Boone responds by replacing pinch-hitter Austin Wells with a right-handed bat Jose Trevino who too hastily turns on the first pitch, an inside and half-height fastball, producing a comfortable fly ball for the center fielder Edman.
The Dodgers also win game two and leave Los Angeles with a 2-0 lead in the series that will start again in New York on the Italian night between Monday and Tuesday 29 October, live on TV from 1.30 on Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Arena and streaming on NOW.
Luca Giangrande
Photo: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers and winning pitcher in game two, celebrates after ending the fourth inning with a strikeout against Anthony Rizzo. Credit: MLB.
