TORONTO — Blue Jays fans, it turns out, have been wasting all of their time booing and mocking the wrong Japanese star who spurned them in free agency.
It’s Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto who is ruining the Blue Jays’ dreams of their first World Series title in 32 years.
Yamamoto carved his way into postseason history Saturday night, and tore the heart out of the Blue Jays’ high-powered attack, pitching a four-hit complete game as the Dodgers took a 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays, tying the World Series at one game apiece with the Series returning Monday night to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Yamamoto, who retired the final 20 batters he faced, became the first pitcher since Curt Schilling for the 2001 World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks to throw back-to-back complete games in the playoffs. The last pitcher to throw consecutive complete games that included at least one World Series contest was Hall of Famer Tom Glavine with Atlanta in 1992.
And no Dodger has accomplished the feat since Orel Hershiser, who won the 1988 World Series MVP award.
It was a magnificent sequel to Yamamoto’s complete game performance in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, when he gave up just one run and three hits, striking out seven batters.
Yet, as good as that outing was in Milwaukee, this one was even better.
The Blue Jays’ best chance to get to Yamamoto was in the first inning when George Springer led off with a double and Nathan Lukes followed with a single, putting runners on the corners.
Yamamoto shrugged his shoulders, struck out Vladimir Guerrero, induced a soft lineout by Alejandro Kirk, and then struck out Daulton Varsho, ending the inning.
Yamamoto gave up just two hits the rest of the way, including one that was simply a blunder with a 100% catch probability when Ernie Clement’s second-inning infield popup landed harmlessly over charging first baseman Freddie Freeman’s head.
Yet, after Guerrero’s third-inning single and Alejandro Kirk’s sacrifice fly, Yamamoto was perfect.
Twenty up, 20 down.
Five strikeouts, zero walks.
Yamamoto was so dominant that the Blue Jays managed only two balls out of the infield during the 23-batter stretch.
“He’s been great all year,’ said Dodgers All-Star catcher Will Smith, who drove in three runs, including his first extra-base hit of the postseason with his seventh-inning homer that broke open a 1-1 tie. “He’s had the experience from last year. He is so focused right now.
“I have high expectations for him as always, but he’s just a competitor. He throws Strike 1. Gets ahead. He’s got nasty stuff. Just really makes it tough on hitters.’’
Make it virtually impossible.
It’s why the Dodgers shelled out $325 million two years ago to Yamamoto, who spurned the Blue Jays and their willingness to match the offer or go even higher.
“Whether it is a regular-season game, the playoffs or the World Series,’’ Yamamoto said, “I take every one as similarly as possible. Right now, I think I’m in a pretty good position mentally.”
So are the Dodgers.
The Series may be tied at 1-apiece but all of the momentum – and home-field advantage – are right back in the Dodgers’ court.
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