Los Angeles secured a commanding 2–0 lead in the National League Championship Series after a dominant start by Yoshinobu Yamamoto sealed a 5–1 Game 2 win over Milwaukee. That dominant start stood as the centerpiece of a game that could reshape the postseason trajectory. Yamamoto threw a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven and walking one. He rebounded from a leadoff home run conceded on the very first pitch, then retired 14 batters in a row.It was the Dodgers’ first postseason complete game since 2004 and the first overall since 2017.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ offense delivered on multiple fronts. Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy each hit solo home runs. Shohei Ohtani added an RBI single, and Tommy Edman chipped in with another run. The Brewers’ starter, Freddy Peralta, yielded three runs over 5⅔ innings.
Game 1 had already showcased Dodgers’ pitching dominance: Blake Snell delivered eight shutout innings in a 2–1 win. In back‑to‑back games, Los Angeles managed to lean on its rotation rather than burden the bullpen.
With this victory in Milwaukee, the Dodgers travel home with momentum. In best‑of‑seven series history, 78 of 93 teams leading 2–0 have gone on to win. Teams that win both road games first have especially favorable odds.
Yamamoto, now 27, continues to build his postseason legacy in just his second major league season. Prior to this, he had never thrown a full nine‑inning game. The home run he gave up to Jackson Chourio came on the first pitch, but he quickly reset his focus and dominated thereafter.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised the strength of his rotation, noting that when top starters deliver innings, it relieves pressure elsewhere in the roster. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said his hitters struggled against the dominant pitching of Snell and Yamamoto.
Milwaukee entered the NLCS as the top overall seed, after posting a franchise record 97 wins. Yet the offense has struggled in this series, producing just five hits in the first two games and scoring only one run each night. The Brew Crew has rarely had a runner in scoring position.
The microscopic offensive output magnifies the challenge ahead. Every at‑bat matters now, and they must find answers in Los Angeles.
Looking forward, Game 3 shifts to Dodger Stadium on Thursday. The Brewers must rebound quickly. They may need to alter their approach, perhaps pushing hitters to be more aggressive early or adjusting pitch selection strategies.
For the Dodgers, the next question is whether they can continue leveraging starting pitchers deep into games, maintain bullpen freshness, and sustain offensive consistency. If Yamamoto’s performance signals the start of a deeper run, Los Angeles may be firmly en route to another World Series berth. In short, Yamamoto’s dominant start secured a key Game 2 win, putting the Dodgers in strong NLCS control. Whether Milwaukee can respond, and whether Los Angeles can sustain this form, will decide which team moves forward.
