LOS ANGELES – Years before he crossed over to Major League Baseball, before he became the highest-paid pitcher in the history of the sport, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was a subject of fascination. His training methods were idiosyncratic. His track record in Japan was one of dominance. His small stature during the game inspired awe among executives who marveled at his ability to manipulate a baseball.

On the biggest stage of his baseball life, the 6-foot-2 right-hander stood the tallest. Yamamoto dominated the New York Yankees in the World Series, delivering the best start of his rookie campaign and bringing the Los Angeles Dodgers to within two wins of a championship.

“It was made for those moments,” said Teoscar Hernández. “He did it in Japan before he came here, and as soon as he got here he did it here.”

“The lights were out,” Kiké Hernández said.

Yamamoto gave up one hit, a solo home run to slugger Juan Soto, over 6 1/3 innings in the 4-2 victory. For one night, at least, he looked like the man the Dodgers envisioned to win postseason games as they fantasized about a 12-year future with the Japanese star.

Catcher Will Smith and manager Dave Roberts congratulate Yoshinobu Yamamoto on his departure in the seventh inning. (Harry Hoe/Getty Images)

What happened after Yamamoto left the mound only emphasized how important it was for the Dodgers’ $325 million man to reach those heights on Saturday night. Shohei Ohtani tried to steal second base in the seventh inning and ended up in the infield in obvious pain after partially dislocating his left shoulder.

The injury threatened the Dodgers’ stronghold in this series in an instant. There is no longer a feared hitter in baseball’s most dangerous lineup. There is no player who has a more direct impact on the Dodgers’ bottom line and box score fortunes than Ohtani.

Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers were “encouraged” by their initial strength and movement tests with Ohtani. The designated hitter will be tested Sunday to determine if there is further damage to his non-throwing shoulder. Roberts added that he “expected to be in the lineup.”

If Ohtani is out, it opens up an opportunity for a Yankees club that can close the margin on the slim lineup advantage the Dodgers currently have. Soto is by far New York’s deadliest weapon. Yamamoto neutralized Giancarlo Stanton, who had a standout October, in three at bats. Just about every opponent Aaron Judge faced in October did an effective job of stopping the presumptive American League MVP; Judge struck out three times in four at-bats on Saturday, including twice against Yamamoto.

Yamamoto took care of the Dodgers on Saturday with his dominance, showing something he hasn’t had since the last time he faced this Yankees club in June. An injury halted his progress this summer, when a strained right rotator cuff put nights like this in jeopardy. In Game 2, he pitched into the sixth inning for the first time since that night he scored seven scoreless at Yankee Stadium. His first fastball registered 90 mph and held up into the mid-90s. Yamamoto took over his fastball command as the night progressed. He was willing to use his slider against the likes of Judge and Stanton. His splitter danced all night.

“Everything worked well today,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda.

Yamamoto limited himself to one mistake. With Soto down a two-strike count in the third inning, Yamamoto ripped a fastball destined for the bottom outside corner and left it over the plate at belt height. Soto, seemingly carrying the Yankees’ lineup himself in Game 2, destroyed it for a 300-foot home run to right.

Yamamoto did not allow another base runner.

“I would say this start for me was probably a little bit better in the sense that we didn’t have to navigate Soto back into Yankee Stadium either,” Roberts said, referring to the fact that Soto missed that June game with an injury. “Obviously he was fantastic on this stage tonight.”

“I’m just really proud of him, where he started and where he is now,” Mookie Betts said.

The Yankees entered the series with what appeared to be a clear starting pitching advantage. The Dodgers managed to quell that over two nights in Los Angeles, stealing a win in Game 1 after Gerrit Cole allowed just one run in six innings (Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty went 5 1/3 innings, giving him just two points allowed) and chased down another nine points. -figure starter in Carlos Rodón before even completing the fourth inning on Saturday.

The Yankees’ advantage on paper should be bigger in Games 3 and 4, where they will start Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil; the Dodgers will counter with Walker Buehler and a bullpen game after already requesting two outings from Blake Treinen (55 pitches), Michael Kopech (24 pitches), Anthony Banda (32 pitches) and Alex Vesia (17 pitches) during the first series of the series two games.

What Yamamoto, along with Flaherty, has done is put the Dodgers in a strong position – up 2-0 in the series anyway.

(Top photo of Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)