The atmosphere was electric at Dodger Stadium, starting with a pregame performance by L.A. icon Ice Cube and building to a crescendo as the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series. The win puts the Dodgers up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
However, the excitement dimmed dramatically when Shohei Ohtani suffered a left shoulder injury during a seventh-inning attempt to steal second base. After drawing a walk from Clay Holmes, Ohtani slid into the base awkwardly, landing hard and causing immediate concern. The stadium, once alive with cheers, fell silent as he lay on the ground in evident pain.
Despite the injury, the Dodgers rallied behind a stellar performance from pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who dazzled the crowd with 6 1/3 innings of one-hit ball, allowing only a solo home run to Juan Soto. His dominant outing helped the Dodgers stave off a late Yankees comeback, which had fans on the edge of their seats.
Freddie Freeman, despite nursing a sprained right ankle, continued to make his mark, belting another home run alongside NLCS MVP Tommy Edman and All-Star Teoscar Hernández. The trio's efforts complemented Yamamoto’s pitching, ensuring the Dodgers maintained their lead throughout the game.
“We're just focused on winning in front of our home crowd. Getting these wins early is crucial, especially as we head into a challenging environment," Freeman said.
In this matchup, the Dodgers capitalized on Carlos Rodón's early struggles. Edman opened the scoring with a solo shot in the second, followed by Hernández's two-run homer in the third. Freeman then joined the power display with a towering blast, extending the lead to 4-1.
As the game progressed, the Yankees threatened a comeback in the ninth. After a wild pitch allowed Soto to advance to second, Giancarlo Stanton drove him in with a single, putting the Yankees within striking distance. They loaded the bases but ultimately fell short, with Blake Treinen striking out Anthony Volpe and Alex Vesia closing out the game with a swift out.
“The last three outs are always the toughest. But we had confidence in our bullpen to get it done," Freeman acknowledged, reflecting on the pressure of the ninth inning.
The Yankees now face an uphill battle as they head to New York with their backs against the wall. It's a long series, and we need to make it a long series now. We won’t flinch,” Manager Aaron Boone remained resolute, emphasizing the need for his team to keep fighting.
The upcoming games will be critical for both teams, especially with Ohtani's status uncertain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed cautious optimism about Ohtani's injury, noting, “We’re going to get some tests tonight and tomorrow, and we’ll know more soon. His strength and range of motion looked good.”
As the series shifts to Yankee Stadium, the Dodgers are just two wins away from clinching the championship, while the Yankees look to rebound in front of their home crowd.
World Series schedule, results & reports
Game 1: Dodgers 6-3 Yankees
Game 2: Dodgers 4-2 Yankees
Game 3 (in New York): Monday, 28 October
Game 4 (in New York): Tuesday, 29 October
Game 5* (in New York): Wednesday, 30 October
Game 6* (in LA): Friday, 1 November
Game 7* (in LA): Saturday, 2 November
*if required. Matches start 20:08 Eastern Time (early next morning UK time). Home team listed first.
