Dodgers hit 3 home runs for 2-0 World Series lead, but Shohei Ohtani leaves with injury

2 weeks ago

The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman, center, celebrates with teammates Teoscar Hernández, left, and Mookie Betts as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws to the plate during the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge walks back toward the dugout after striking out swinging during the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodón throws to the plate during the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts hits a single during the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts runs to first base after hitting a single during the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, throws out the New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. at first base during the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo watches as a ball hit by the Dodgers’ Tommy Edman (not pictured) lands in the stands for a solo home run during the second inning of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman, left, celebrates with teammates Teoscar Hernández, center, and Mookie Betts as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws to the plate during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees star Juan Soto hits a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Juan Soto of the New York Yankees hits a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during Game 2 of a World Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

New York Yankees star Juan Soto watches the flight of his solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees star Juan Soto, top left, hits a solo home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees star Juan Soto celebrates as he begins to run the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees star Juan Soto celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees star Juan Soto celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández hits a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández watches the flight of his two-run home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández, right, celebrates with teammate Freddie Freeman after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodón, right, watches as the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates as he begins to run the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, left, gets a sunflower seed shower from teammate Teoscar Hernandez as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, gets a sunflower seed shower from teammate Teoscar Hernandez as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, left, celebrates with teammate Mookie Betts as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts walks toward the mound before removing starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, far left, claps as he arrives at the mound to remove starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto walks toward the dugout after being removed during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, right, is tagged out by New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres while trying to steal second base during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani was injured on the play and was removed from the game. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani winces after being injured while trying to steal second base during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A member of the Dodgers’ training staff tends to Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani after he was injured while trying to steal second base during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Members of the Dodgers’ training staff and Manager Dave Roberts check on Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani after he was injured while trying to steal second base during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Members of the Dodgers’ training staff and Manager Dave Roberts leads Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, back, off the field after he was injured while trying to steal second base during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia reacts after getting New York Yankees pinch hitter Jose Trevino (not pictured) to fly out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning to close out a 4-2 win in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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LOS ANGELES — Game 1 ended with a roar. Game 2 ended with concerned murmurs.

The Dodgers got a stellar performance from pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and hit three home runs in the first three innings, including back-to-back homers by Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman, and used that power burst to take control of this World Series with a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 on Saturday night.

But Shohei Ohtani left the game with an apparent injury after being thrown out while trying to steal second base in the seventh inning. Ohtani appeared to jam his left shoulder as he went into his slide and braced himself with his left arm.

The likely National League MVP left the field holding his left arm gingerly with a trainer at his side and could be seen telling the trainer, in Japanese, that he had popped his shoulder out of its socket.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani suffered a subluxation – a partial dislocation – of the shoulder. He will have an MRI on Sunday, but Roberts said Ohtani’s range of motion was good after leaving the game.

If that wasn’t enough to make Dodger fans nervous, Blake Treinen raised their collective blood pressure even higher in the ninth inning. The Dodgers took a one-hitter into the ninth but Treinen retired just one of the five batters he faced. A run scored as he gave up three hits and hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch to load the bases. But Treinen struck out Anthony Volpe and Alex Vesia came in to get a game-ending fly out.

But it’s Ohtani’s status that will loom over the travel day on Sunday. The World Series resumes at Yankee Stadium on Monday night at 5:08 p.m. PT. Walker Buehler is scheduled to start for the Dodgers and Clarke Schmidt for the Yankees.

Teams with a 2-0 advantage in the World Series have gone on to win 44 of 54 previous times.

Buehler and Schmidt will be challenged to match the performance of Yamamoto in Game 2.

Yamamoto allowed just one hit in six innings – a solo home run by Juan Soto in the third inning. He retired 11 batters in order after that mistake, completing six innings and pitching into the seventh for the first time since his seven scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium on June 7.

Soto’s homer was the only time the Yankees returned fire against Yamamoto.

Presumptive American League MVP Aaron Judge was hitless in four at-bats in Game 2, striking out three times (twice against Yamamoto and again against Blake Treinen in the ninth) and has struck out six times in his first nine at-bats in this series after going 5 for 31 (.161) with 13 strikeouts in the Yankees’ previous two series.

After asking as little as possible from their starting pitchers in the NL Division Series and Championship Series, Jack Flaherty and Yamamoto have combined to allow just three runs on six hits over 11⅔ innings in the first two games of the World Series.

With the roar that followed Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 still echoing off the hills surrounding Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers got to Yankees Game 2 starter Carlos Rodón quickly.

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Tommy Edman led off the second inning with a solo home run down the left field line. Edman added a double in his next at-bat. The switch-hitter has terrorized left-handed pitchers like Rodon since joining the Dodgers (25 for 50 with six home runs, six doubles and a triple) – more so in the postseason. He is 11 for 16 (.688) with four doubles and two home runs off left-handed pitching in the postseason.

An inning later, Mookie Betts singled to left field with two outs. Teoscar Hernandez got a high fastball from Rodon on 1-and-0 and sent it over the wall in right-center field for a two-run homer.

Freeman had to work hard for his fat fastball. It finally came with the count full and he lined it 401 feet into the right field pavilion.

Hernandez and Freeman were the 19th pair of batters to hit back-to-back home runs in a World Series.

If Freeman’s grand slam in Game 1 evoked memories of Kirk Gibson in the 1988 World Series, Hernandez and Freeman did a callback to the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series victory over the Yankees. That was the only other time a pair of Dodgers hit back-to-back home runs in a World Series game. Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager did it in Game 5 and the Dodgers went on to win the series in Game 6.

More to come on this story.

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