NEW YORK -- Toeing the rubber in the Bronx seems to bring out the best in Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Yamamoto authored one of his best starts of the season in his return to Yankee Stadium, holding the Yankees to two runs across nine dominant innings in a Dodgers 8-2 win in the early game of a split doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. It was Yamamoto's first big league complete game in the regular season after the ace memorably went the distance in consecutive starts last postseason.
Last year, Yamamoto became the second pitcher to throw his first two MLB career complete games in the postseason, joining Josh Beckett (2003). He's the first Dodger to go the distance in the regular season since Gavin Stone shut out the White Sox on June 26, 2024.
With the former crosstown rivals playing two on Sunday after Saturday's game was postponed due to inclement weather, the Dodgers knew they could rely on Yamamoto for length. As it turned out, he was the only arm L.A. sent to the mound in the early game, giving the team a fully rested array of relievers for the planned bullpen game in the nightcap.
“Being able to complete the game, the whole nine innings, that gives a little break for the bullpen,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “I would like to do that as much as I can, but not every game will go like this.”
In a highly anticipated matchup against the Yankees' Cam Schlittler, Yamamoto outshined the home starter, who struck out the side in the first inning but was grinded out for three runs across 4 1/3 innings, which was more than enough for Yamamoto to work with. L.A. later spotted Yamamoto another five runs in an eighth inning that saw 11 batters go to the plate.
“You see Schlittler that first inning, and you see the velocity, the stuff, strikes out the side,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And for Yoshi to come back and do what he did and to perform the way he did -- that's why he's our ace.”
Yamamoto struck out seven, gave up four hits and did not walk a batter. He went nine up, nine down to open the game, allowing his first baserunner when Trent Grisham led off the fourth inning on a solo homer. Yamamoto gave up one more run when center fielder Andy Pages lost a Jazz Chisholm Jr. fly ball in the sun and Anthony Volpe singled him home in the eighth inning.
When Yamamoto was in his first big league season, one of his first breakout performances came at Yankee Stadium on June 7, 2024. He twirled seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball, a precursor to a similarly dominant outing against the Yankees on an even bigger stage in the World Series later that year.
That first start in the Bronx two years ago was the Dodgers' first time seeing Yamamoto's big-game presence -- which had already been battle-tested during his decorated career in Nippon Professional Baseball -- on a Major League mound. Since then, Yamamoto has proven he can tap into that mentality when the games matter most, and he brought his best to Sunday's marquee matchup with New York.
“He's pitched well here,” Roberts said. “And you know he likes these big games.”
Yamamoto did not get a lot of swing-and-miss, generating only six whiffs. But he got ahead early and often, landing 21 of his 30 first pitches for strikes, and located with pinpoint accuracy. His dominant effort ended with him dotting a cutter low and away for a called third strike against Jasson Domínguez, securing at least a series victory for the Dodgers to open the second half.
This may have been Yamamoto's first time going the distance in the regular season, but the Dodgers can depend on him for length, as he's completed at least six innings in all but two of his 18 starts. His 119 2/3 innings lead the team, with Justin Wrobleski's 100 1/3 ranking second.
“If you have a guy that not only puts you in a position to win a game, but also saves a lot of arms,” Roberts said, “that goes hand-in-hand with the top-end-of-the-rotation guy.”
Yamamoto put together a first half that saw him named an All-Star for the second time, and he's focused on building on that strong start. As the Dodgers get deeper into their three-peat bid, they'll need their ace at his best to have a chance at pulling it off.
“The most important part of the season is coming up,” Yamamoto said, “so I’d like to do my best.”