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Remarkably, Yamamoto became the first pitcher since Kurt Schilling to throw back-to-back complete games in the postseason, with this being the first such feat since 2001. He also retired 20 consecutive batters at one point, an extraordinary streak in the closing moments of a World Series game, a feat only achieved previously by Hall of Famers like Don Larson and Grover Cleveland Alexander in historic postseason outings.
Historical Context and Significance
The rarity of Yamamoto’s achievement was emphasized by the fact that no pitcher had thrown consecutive complete games in the postseason since Madison Bumgarner in 2014. Yamamoto's ability to maintain such high performance across multiple games is a testament to his stamina and skill.