NLCS Game 2 takeaways: Top moments and the hero of Dodgers’ victory

For the second straight night, theLos Angeles Dodgersrode a dominant performance from their starting pitcher to a National League Championship Series victory over theMilwaukee Brewers. This time it wasYoshinobu Yamamotodelivering a complete-game gem for the defending champs as L.A. moved two wins away from a return trip to the World Series. How did L.A. take control of Game 2? We’ve got you covered with the top moments, takeaways — and a look at where this series is headed next. It was over when …The Dodgers put up two runs in the second inning onTeoscar Hernandez’s homer andAndy Pages’ RBI double. The Brewers’ hitters just haven’t been able to touch L.A. starting pitchers so far in this NLCS, save forJackson Chourio’s first-pitch, leadoff homer. Through two games, the Dodgers’ rotation has given one run, four hits, one walk and struck out 17 over 17 innings. The ERA: 0.53.– Bradford Doolittle Game 2 hero:Yoshinobu Yamamoto. For one batter, it looked like the Brewers were celebrating that someone not namedBlake Snellwas on the mound. Not so fast. Yamamoto rolled through all nine frames, with the Brewers never really threatening again.– Doolittle The postgame vibe:Brewers manager Pat Murphy, like everyone else, couldn’t help but marvel at the pitching performances that have put his team in an NLCS hole after Game 2: “They were both great. Both those pitchers were as dominant as two pitchers have been. We chased way more than we’ve chased all year. We’ve been the best in baseball at not chasing. These pitchers brought out the worst in us. If I would have told you that the Dodgers were going to score seven runs in two games, and what was the outcome in the first two games, I’d say there’s a chance we win one of them for sure.” What it means for the rest of the series:Bad news for the Brewers. WithTyler GlasnowandShohei Ohtanilooming in home dates for the Dodgers on Thursday and Friday, it’s not going to get much easier for Milwaukee hitters. It’s hard to imagine the series continuing past the games in L.A. now. And unlike theToronto Blue Jays, who are facing their own road challenge down 2-0, the Brewers have to overcome the championship experience of a loaded Dodgers roster while heading to a hostile Dodger Stadium. Tough days are ahead for the regular-season champs.– Jesse Rogers