Yoshinobu Yamamoto didn’t have the start the Los Angeles Dodgers hoped for in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. It was rocky from the start and it certainly didn’t settle the debate about the Dodgers’ postseason woes.
The Padres got to Yamamoto early. The right-hander’s final stat line from the night included five earned runs, two walks, and one strikeout through three innings. Manager Dave Roberts told FOX’s Ken Rosenthal that he was done after three innings. Right-handed pitcher Ryan Brasier would be replacing him to start the fourth.
Luis Arraez, the National League’s leader in batting average, got a base hit to left field to start the game. He proceeded to take second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch. Yamamoto then walked the second batter he faced in Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr., setting up first and third with nobody out.
It was evident Yamamoto needed to throw more strikes after facing his first two batters, and Jurickson Profar’s ground out brought in Arraez for the first run of the game.
Next up was Manny Machado, and Yamamoto began to pound the zone. Although he started to show more confidence, the 25-year-old gave up a two-run homer to Machado. The Padres got an early 3-0 lead.
The Dodgers could only hope he would settle after his shaky first inning.
Yamamoto had a stronger start to the second inning and earned back to back outs. Then, the right-hander proceeded to strike out Arraez for a 1-2-3 inning. Yamamoto settled in as the Dodgers offense looked to respond in the bottom of the second inning.
Shohei Ohtani took some pressure off Yamamoto by hitting a game-tying home run with two outs in the second frame. The $700 million man came through and made it a whole new 3-3 ball game.
Ohtani’s homer essentially reset the game to zero, which allowed Yamamoto to enter the third inning with a clean slate.
Yamamoto struggled against Tatis to open the third inning. The Padres outfielder earned a lead-off double. The Dodgers right-hander contained Jurickson Profar to a pop fly.
Machado showed warning track power in his second at-bat, but ultimately flew out to left field. Teoscar Hernández secured the second out.
Yamamoto threw a strike three that should have retired rookie Jackson Merrill, but the umpire didn’t give him the call. Yamamoto proceeded to walk Merrill. Then, Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run double off Yamamoto to put San Diego in the lead, 5-3.
Brasier began warming up in the bullpen after the double by Bogaerts. Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth flew out to Hernández to end the third inning.
Ultimately, the third will end up being his last.
In his first meeting with the Padres, Yamamoto gave up five runs and went just one inning in the Seoul Series. The meeting was a foreshadow of what was to come in Game 1 of the NLDS, as both were the two worst starts of his MLB career.
Yamamoto’s outing raises concerns about the Dodgers sudden decision to switch their front-line starters. However, we won’t know if starting Jack Flaherty in Game 1 would’ve had a different outcome. He’ll get the nod in Game 2.
As for Game 1, the Dodgers bullpen and bats will look to save this one.
