Ryan Yarbrough delivered a commanding performance on Sunday night, leading the New York Yankees to a 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and preventing a sweep in their much-anticipated World Series rematch. In a game that pitted Yarbrough against Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it was the Yankees’ lefty who stole the spotlight, holding the Dodgers’ high-powered offense to just one run over six innings.
Ben Rice provided the offensive spark for New York, launching a two-run homer in the third inning that put the Yankees ahead for good. Rice’s blast was part of a relentless approach against Yamamoto, who was chased after just 2/3 innings—his shortest outing of the season and a rare stumble for the Japanese star. Yamamoto allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out only two as his ERA climbed to.17.
Yarbrough, meanwhile, continued his strong run since joining the Yankees’ rotation, improving to 3-0 with a.08 ERA over five starts. He expertly mixed his pitches and kept Dodgers hitters off balance, earning praise from both his teammates and manager Aaron Boone. The outing was especially meaningful for Yarbrough, who quietly received his 2024 World Series ring from the Dodgers before the game—a nod to his stint with Los Angeles last season.
The Yankees’ win came after a lopsided 18-2 defeat the previous day, and it featured contributions from up and down the lineup, including a four-hit, two-RBI game from DJ LeMahieu. Notably, stars Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani both went hitless in the finale, while Jasson Domínguez left early with a thumb injury.
With the victory, the Yankees avoided being swept for the first time this season and left Los Angeles with momentum, but the series also hinted at what could be another October showdown between these two powerhouse clubs.
