Prior to being named the Game 5 starter for Friday’s clinching National League Division Series matchup, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had not shown a feel for the postseason quite yet.
In Game 1, the Los Angeles Dodgers rookie had allowed five earned runs on five hits, lasting just three innings in the series opener. Some concerns over Yamamoto tipping his pitches were raised as well.
But the Dodgers believed they remedied those issues and named him their Game 5 starter.
The 26-year-old went on to twirl a gem, using his complete pitch arsenal over five shutout innings. In the biggest game of his career, Yammoto posted a 62% strike rate, quieting the Padres’ offense.
“It was founded in the fact that Yoshi, (Yu) Darvish, guys like, other guys that have pitched that are from out of the country, they’re pitching on a bigger scale,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts of the decision to start Yamamoto in the winner-take-all game.
“Yoshi is pitching for his country. When you pitch for the WBC, for the country of Japan, those are the highest stakes that you can have. He’s done that and pitched well in those moments.
“So has Darvish. I have to give Yu a lot of credit for what he did. I think for me, I didn’t believe that he was going to run from this moment. And we were going to get everything he had. And that’s what he did. And he hadn’t been in the sixth inning since the Yankees. I felt at that time he gave us everything he had and we could give it off to a very, very capable ‘pen.”
Yamamoto was a highly decorated pitcher while in playing Nippon Professional Baseball, winning their equivalent of the Cy Young and MVP.
His role in Game 5 was both a stabilizing force for the Dodgers, and a nod of confidence in the immense talent he carries.
“He set the tone,” Roberts added. “I think that Yoshi’s had a lot of success in his professional career. I said it before; he’s pitched in big ball games. And I believed in him.
“I knew he was going to rise to the occasion. And he was outstanding tonight. And I knew he wasn’t going to run from this spot. I’m looking forward to riding him through the World Series.”
Of the two hits Yamamoto allowed on Friday, both were singles in the third inning. The threat was erased when Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded into a double play.
Yamamoto had a complete turnaround from Game 1, keeping the Padres off balance, attacking the strike zone with all of his pitches.
“It’s the best we’ve seen him,” said Padres manager Mike Schildt. “We were able to get him in the second game in Korea, which feels like 100 years ago, and get five in the first. And we had some good at-bats with him earlier in this season.
“Had good at-bats early in the game earlier in the series. And I give him a lot of credit. Fastball looked like it had a lot of life. Had to be pretty exciting for Japan tonight — or in their case today. He was good. I liked his fastball in and out. Threw the secondary when he needed to, and we just couldn’t string anything together.
“I thought he rose to the occasion.”
It was reminiscent of Yamamoto’s start against the New York Yankees on June 7 when he fired seven shutout innings in Yankee Stadium. His mound presence, coupled with confidence to pound the zone against a good lineup, is what the Dodgers expect from their highest-paid arm.
With his masterful part in the clinching game, Yamamoto got his get-back showing to extend the Dodgers postseason run.
What’s next for Yoshinobu Yamamoto?
Looking ahead to the NL Championship Series round against the New York Mets, Yamamoto lines up to pitch a Game 4 after his clinching performance in the NLDS.
Because of the Dodgers having the best record in baseball, they secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and Game 4 would be a road matchup in Citi Field. Yamamoto faced the Mets one time in the early months of the regular season, when he posted a six inning, seven hit, three earned run outing on April 19.
He’s only slated to factor into one game during the NLCS round because of the Dodgers keeping the right-hander on a schedule with extra rest between starts.
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