Read the full story on SportsLook - Yoshinobu Yamamoto Leads the Dodgers to a Game 5 Win Over the Padres in the NLDS
The Los Angeles Dodgers have advanced to the National League Championship Series.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and four relievers combined on a two–hitter as the Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 2-0 in Game 5 of the NL Division Series on Friday, October 11 at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers reached the NLCS for the second straight year. Game 1 of the NLCS, Dodgers vs the visiting New York Mets, is on Sunday.
In the first-ever matchup of Japanese starting pitchers in an MLB playoff game, Yamamoto outdeuled San Diego's Yu Darvish before an announced crowd of 53,183.
Yamamoto, making his second start of the series, held the punchless Padres to two hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out two. Relievers Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen followed.
It was a banner performance for Yamamoto in a high-stakes environment, and the three-time Eiji Sawamura Award winner made the Dodgers' lucrative investment in him (12 years, $325 million USD, or ¥48 billion JPY) return to the spotlight.
Yamamoto, the former Orix Buffaloes ace who was 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 regular-season starts, was sharp in this win-or-go-home environment on this night.
"I'm really happy that I was able to do my job and help the team win. I was able to locate my pitches well inside the strike zone from the first inning," Yamamoto said after the game, according to Kyodo News.
"On a personal note, I'm happy I was able to pitch at the same time [as Darvish] in such a big game."
Ohtani Bats .200 Against the Padres
NL home-run and RBI leader Shohei Ohtani, who became the first player in MLB history with 50 or more homers and 50 or more steals in the same season, was not a big factor against the Padres. He batted .200 (4-for-20, including a homer in the series opener) with 10 strikeouts in the NLDS.
Ohtani, playing in his first MLB playoff series, was hitless in four at-bats in Game 5.
The Dodgers Slug a Pair of Homers off Darvish
The NL West Division-winning Dodgers finished with four hits in the low-scoring game, with solo home runs by Kike Hernandez to center in the second inning and Teoscar Hernandez to left in the seventh, sealed the victory.
Darvish gave up both homers and took the loss. He left the game trailing 2-0 after 6⅔ innings. Darvish allowed three hits, issued one walk and fanned four.
Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.
RELATED:
- Dodgers Superstar Shohei Ohtani Falls Short of Triple Crown
- A 50-50 Season! Shohei Ohtani Achieves Historic Feat
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto Makes Impressive Return in 1st MLB Start Since Mid-June
- Shohei Ohtani Arrives in Seoul as MLB's Global Icon
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
