Los Angeles Dodgers' All-Star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto did all the heavy lifting in the Dodgers' win over the San Diego Padres.
The All-Stars showed out for the Los Angeles Dodgers as Yoshinobu Yamamoto's 10 strikeouts and Freddie Freeman's 15th home run of the season were the catalyst for a Fourth of July 3-0 win against the San Diego Padres. It also secured a series victory for the Dodgers, too.
After being selected for his second All-Star selection, Yamamoto toed the rubber for his 16th start of the season and it proved to be one of the better starts he's pitched in this season.
"He looked like an All-Star," Dave Roberts said to the media via SportsNetLA on Yamamoto's performance against the Padres. "He came out with a purpose. You can see the intent tonight. Execution, really good from pitch one."
Through seven scoreless innings, the right-hander struck out (and tied) a career high in strikeouts with 10. He earned at least one strikeout with five of the six primary pitches he throws.
Jul 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. -- © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesIn his last seven starts, Yamamoto has held the fort down on the mound. He has posted a sub-two ERA (1.51) and has struck out 44 batters in 47.2 innings pitched.
“All my stuff was good; fastball, off-speed, everything was working out pretty well. Also, my mechanics, I was pretty much satisfied," Yamamoto said to the media via SportsNetLA.
The bullpen picked up where Yamamoto left off with Brock Stewart, Alex Vesia, and Will Klein putting up zeros for the final two innings to secure the series win.
As for the offense, Freddie Freeman — who was selected for his eighth consecutive All-Star selection and 10th overall — provided the fireworks. The starting first baseman for the NL All-Stars went 2-for-3 at the plate, including hitting his 15th home run of the season off Padres southpaw Kyle Hurt in the bottom of the sixth.
Jul 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a home run in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. -- © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesHe later drove in the final insurance in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single up the middle off Mason Miller.
Andy Pages, who was selected for his first All-Star Game bid and will start in the outfield, drove in the first run of the game in the third inning with an RBI single between Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado.
With the win, the Dodgers win their second game against the Padres in as many days. They improve to 59-31 and look for the series sweep on Sunday with Emmet Sheehan getting the start.
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