LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers can always rely on Yoshinobu Yamamoto to set the right tone.
Coming off a three-game sweep of the Rockies on the road, the Dodgers returned to Dodger Stadium and received 6 1/3 strong innings from Yamamoto to open a three-game set against the Pirates on Friday night.
Yamamoto struck out nine batters for the second time in as many starts. He allowed two runs -- both knocked in by the Pirates' Nick Gonzales -- on five hits and a walk. He left two runners on when his outing came to an end in the seventh inning, and right-hander Brock Stewart stranded them both.
The Dodgers leaned on Yamamoto for 107 pitches, two shy of the right-hander's season high. It marked the 12th time in 23 starts that Yamamoto has met or exceeded the century mark in pitches this season. His performance has resulted in him getting a longer and longer leash as time goes on, as he threw 100 or more pitches 10 times in the regular season last year.
Yamamoto exited the game in line for the win. Thirteen wins would set a career high in his third Major League season.