Yamamoto throws first World Series complete game since 2015 as Dodgers beat Blue Jays 5-1 in Game 2

TORONTO (AP) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a World Series game from another era.

Sandy Koufax had October outings like this and so did Orel Hershiser, but those types of performances had vanished in modern baseball.

Until this 5-foot-10 starter from Japan delivered like the aces of old.

Yamamoto threw a four-hitter for his second consecutive complete game, the first in the World Series since 2015, and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Saturday night to tie their best-of-seven matchup at one game apiece.

“It's kind of the throwback,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “When he starts a game he expects to finish it.”

Coming off a three-hitter against Milwaukee in the National League Championship Series that was the first postseason complete game in eight years, Yamamoto struck out eight, walked none and retired his final 20 batters.

No pitcher had gone the distance in the Fall Classic since Kansas City's Johnny Cueto fired a two-hitter against the New York Mets in Game 2 a decade ago.

No pitcher had thrown consecutive complete games in the postseason since Arizona ace Curt Schilling, who tossed three in a row in the 2001 NL Division Series and NLCS. Hershiser had been the last Dodgers pitcher with a solo Series effort, in Games 2 and 5 against Oakland in 1988. Koufax pitched two Series complete games each in 1963 and 1965.

Yamamoto smiled when asked about achieving a feat similar to those Dodgers greats.

“To be honest, I’m not sure about the history,” he said through a translator, “but I’m very happy about what I did today.”

Will Smith had three RBIs for Los Angeles, breaking a 1-all tie with a seventh-inning home run off Kevin Gausman, who had retired 17 batters in a row. Max Muncy added another solo homer later in the inning.

It was the first postseason game in which two pitchers both set down 17 or more consecutive batters, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Game 3 is Monday at Dodger Stadium.

A 27-year-old right-hander in his second big league season, Yamamoto threw 105 pitches — 73 for strikes — after tossing 111 against the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS on Oct. 14.

“The baseball fan, right, they probably appreciate that,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “You have to appreciate a complete game.”

Yamamoto pointed in the air as Muncy settled under Daulton Varsho's game-ending popup to third, then hugged Smith, his catcher, after a 2-hour, 36-minute game, the fastest in the Series since the 2017 opener.

“I truly believe he went back out there because of what he did in the last game," Gausman said.

Yamamoto mixed six pitches: 34 splitters, 25 fastballs averaging 96.2 mph, 23 curveballs and 13 cutters along with six sliders and four sinkers. He induced 17 swings and misses.

He threw 12 splitters in a 23-pitch first inning.

“I was trying to be in the game relaxed, but it’s the World Series. So I kind of, early on, I was throwing with unnecessary tension,” Yamamoto said. “So I just adjusted that as the game went on.”

Yamamoto pitched 12 complete games in his last three seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Pacific League before signing a $325 million, 12-year contract with Los Angeles, a record for a pitcher. He improved to 5-1 over two postseasons with the Dodgers, who are 7-1 in his starts.

“He’s just not letting anything get to him," Muncy said. "From what I’ve seen, there’s nothing that fazes him out there. He keeps his composure at all times and he just thinks about executing his next pitch.”

Yamamoto permitted his only run in the third after he hit George Springer near his wrist with a pitch and gave up Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s single off the left-field wall. That was the last runner allowed by Yamamoto, who started his streak by retiring Alejandro Kirk on a sacrifice fly.

After returning to the dugout, Yamamoto kept making notes in his journal.

“I use that every game,” he said. “It’s more like strategic notes, and I use that to check in between innings.”

Los Angeles went ahead for the second straight night, scoring in the first when Freddie Freeman doubled after fouling off three two-strike pitches and came around on Smith’s single.

Springer’s double and Nathan Lukes’ single put runners at the corners with no outs in the bottom half but Yamamoto struck out Guerrero, retired Kirk on a liner to first and froze Varsho with a called third strike.

“Keeping it zero there was huge," Smith said.

Smith homered into the left-field second deck on a full-count fastball, and two batters later Muncy hit an opposite-field drive to left off a fastball on the outside corner. Jeff Hoffman threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the eighth and Smith followed by grounding into an RBI forceout.

A day after winning the opener 11-4 as Bo Bichette returned from a sprained knee that sidelined him for seven weeks, Toronto didn't start the two-time All-Star but inserted him as a pinch hitter in the seventh. After grounding out, he stayed in the game at second base.

The way Yamamoto was pitching, it didn't matter who was hitting.

"I’ve just got to enjoy it and just be happy he’s on our team,” Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts said.

Blue Jays RHP Max Scherzer faces Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow in Game 3. A three-time Cy Young Award winner, the 41-year-old Scherzer will become the first pitcher to make Series starts for four teams. He got his only decision for Washington when he beat Houston in the 2019 opener. Glasnow has a 0.68 ERA in 13 1/3 innings this postseason.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto celebrates with right fielder Teoscar Hernández after throwing compete game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) congratulates pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) after he pitched a complete game, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto walks to thee dugout during the sixth inning in Game 2 of baseball's World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith follows through on an RBI fielder's choice against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning in Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Toronto Blue Jays' Andrés Giménez (0) flips his bat after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning in Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith (16) celebrates towards his dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning in Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) delivers during the sixth inning in Game 2 of baseball's World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

CINCINNATI (AP) — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.

Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.

“I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.”

During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.

He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense.

“We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.”

While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.

Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.

“He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.”

Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.

Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start.

“That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.”

He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)