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    Soto wins Yankees vs. Dodgers in Game 2
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    Soto wins Yankees vs. Dodgers in Game 2

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    How will this year's World Series end? Using the online simulation Dynasty League Baseball, USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will preview each game to provide insight into the key matchups and strategies fans can expect in the Fall Classic.

    Juan Soto's second home run of the game – a three-run blast to start the seventh inning – opened a thrilling back-and-forth game and gave the New York Yankees a 7-4 victory in Game 2 of USA TODAY Sports' annual Simulated World Series .

    The win evens the series at one game apiece as the two teams travel to Yankee Stadium for Games 3, 4 and 5.

    The Hitters continue to battle hard in this year's Sim Series, with seven home runs accounting for nine of the 11 runs scored in Game 2. In addition to the six home runs, the two teams scored in the opening game.

    BOX score: Yankees 7, Dodgers 4

    FULL PLAY-BY-PLAY: Soto's game-winning home run lifts the Yanks to a Game 2 win

    World Series Game 2 simulation

    The two teams once again played a home run derby at Dodger Stadium, with Soto and Jazz Chisholm giving the Yankees an early 2-1 lead, but Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages – who started the game with lefty Carlos Rodón on the mound after he .357/ had hit. .396/.520 against lefties in the regular season – coupled with a home run off reliever Tommy Kahnle in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.

    In the fateful seventh inning, the game turned in the Yankees' favor. With Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto still on the mound, Anthony Volpe led off with a double to left-center. That pitted left-hander Alex Vesia against left-handers Austin Wells and Alex Verdugo. An ill-advised pass from Wells resulted in Volpe being ejected on third down. Verdugo flied out, but leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres drew a walk, setting the stage for Soto's double heroics.

    LA scored on Rojas' second solo home run of the game to make it 6-4, but defensive sub Oswaldo Cabrera scored a decisive run for the Americans with an RBI single in the ninth. Closer Luke Weaver got out of a two-on, no-out jam by striking out Shohei Ohtani and picking off Mookie Betts with a liner to end the game and get the save.

    What can be seen in the (real) game 2

    Neutralizing the Dodgers' lefty hitters: One of the key factors in this series is the Yankees' approach to facing the Dodgers' powerful lefties. In Game 2, starter Carlos Rodón and a trio of relievers managed to neutralize Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy – who combined to go 0-of-13 with 10 strikeouts.

    Rodón threw a pitch in the sixth inning and gave up just two runs before leaving the game with the lead. Rodón gives the Yankees their best matchup against these tough lefty swingmen, even though he faces them a third time in the order.

    Soto comes through in the clutch: As we have often seen in big moments, Juan Soto has a flair for the dramatic. His massive three-run home run in Game 2 of the Sim Series was eerily reminiscent of the three-run home run he hit against Cleveland's Hunter Gaddis in the decisive ALCS win.

    Dynasty League Baseball gives certain players who performed exceptionally well in the regular season with two outs and runners in scoring position a special “clutch” rating that comes into play in such situations. Soto's home run against Vesia was the result of his clutch performance, turning what would have been a lineout into a deep drive – and Soto's Class A power ensured it soared over the fence.

    Defense Upgrades: Many Yankee fans were upset when Oswaldo Cabrera failed to hit a ground ball in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 1 that would have prevented Freddie Freeman from coming to the plate and hitting his game-winning grand slam. However, Cabrera performed as a much better defender this season than Gleyber Torres, whom he had just replaced. (In Dynasty League Baseball, Cabrera has a B defensive range at second base, compared to Torres' D.)

    Cabrera made two nice plays in the ninth inning of that game – one to take a hit from Miguel Rojas deep in the hole and the other to grab Betts' liner and end the game.

    Look for Yankees manager Aaron Boone to continue subbing Cabrera in for Torres late in games for defensive purposes despite his misplay in Game 1.

    How will the bullpens fit together late in the game? Sometimes the turn advantages work, sometimes they don't. Pages (.213/.277/.370 vs. RHP) hit a home run off Kahnle to tie the game. And Soto hit his game-winning home run against lefty Vesia (.144/.238/.311 vs. LH batters).

    If the game comes down to relievers facing opposing hitters, remember these guys:

    • Dodgers RHP Michael Kopech vs. LH: .153/.270/.271
    • Dodgers RHP Blake Treinen vs. LH: .218/.256/.423
    • Dodgers LHP Alex Vesia vs. RH: .150/.274/.278
    • Yankees RHP Jake Cousins ​​vs. LH: .132/.313/.184
    • Yankees RHP Tommy Kahnle vs. LH: .169/.274/.301
    • Yankees RHP Luke Weaver vs. LH: .162/.253/.261

    Previous Sim Series 2024 Results

    Game 1: Dodgers 13, Yankees 9

    Simulate your own World Series. Get a FREE one-month subscription to Dynasty League Baseball online by going to DynastyLeagueBaseball.com, selecting the monthly option and entering code USA2 at checkout.

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