MLB World Series 2024: Dodgers 4-2 Yankees – Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the star in the second game

Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto dominated the New York Yankees in his World Series debut as his Los Angeles Dodgers team completed a 4-2 victory and led the best-of-seven series 2-0.

The hosts also thrilled the raucous Dodger Stadium crowd with three home runs and survived a last-second rebellion by the Yankees as the National League champions took the lead in the Fall Classic.

In contrast to the scoreless first half of Game 1, both teams were on the field early as Tommy Edman of the Dodgers and Juan Soto of the Yankees hit solo home runs.

But then the hosts staged their own home run derby in the third inning, with Teoscar Hernandez and Friday's walk-off hero Freddie Freeman both going deep to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead.

Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year contract worth $325 million (£251 million) – a Major League Baseball record for a pitcher – when he joined the Dodgers from the Japanese League last December, threw one pitch in the seventh inning, with Soto's home run being the only hit he allowed.

The Yankees' offense, which featured star slugger Aaron Judge no-hit and striking out three times, fared no better against the bullpen until it rebounded in the ninth inning.

The visitors were in the last-chance saloon when Soto led off with a base hit, moved to second on a wild pitch and was scored by Giancarlo Stanton to make it 4-2.

Jazz Chisholm Jr hit a single and Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Anthony Volpe struck out and as the Yankees reached their last out, pinch-hitter Jose Trevino flied out to center field.

A bigger concern for the Dodgers was when designated hitter Shohei Ohtani left the field in pain after injuring his left shoulder on a failed stolen base attempt in the seventh inning.

The series now moves to New York, with game three taking place on Monday evening at Yankee Stadium.