Yoshinobu Yamamoto kicked off the first game of a Sunday doubleheader against the New York Yankees with a performance that trumps years past. 

For the first time in 66 regular-season starts, the right-hander went the distance at Yankee Stadium. On 102 pitches, Yamamoto allowed two earned runs and struck out seven. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Yankees 8-2.

"When I was going into the game early on, I was not thinking about ‘today we have a doubleheader.’ I was just focusing on my own job, and a day like this, I was able to perform like this; that was a good thing," Yamamoto told the media via Dodgers Nation. 

This complete game also marks the first time since Jerry Reuss did it in Game Five of the 1981 World Series that a Dodger went the distance against the Yankees. 

In his career at Yankee Stadium, Yamamoto has struck out 14 batters across 16 innings pitched and has generated an ERA of 1.13. 

“For Yoshi to come back and do what he did in the form that he did, that’s why he’s our ace,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the media via SportsNetLA. 

Yamamoto's first start of the second half perfectly summed up how the first half of his season went. The same conviction, paired up with the same consistency, has been his MO in his last 17 starts. 

He also gave the Dodgers' bullpen some much-needed breathing room with the Dodgers sending out a bullpen game to close out the doubleheader later on in the afternoon.

"Being able to complete the game, that gives a little break for the bullpen. I would like to do that as much as I can, but not every game going like this," Yamamoto told the media. 

Throughout this season, he's flirted with history before on numerous occasions. Most notably, he came close to a no-hit chance on June 13 against the Chicago White Sox before giving up the first hit through 8.1 innings. 

Even though Trent Grisham's solo shot in the bottom of the fourth broke Yamamoto's early chances at history, he worked along business as usual. 

Offensively, the Dodgers took their time at the box before exploding for a five-spot in the eighth inning. Los Angeles had some help with the Yankees sending out their ailing bullpen in hopes of keeping the game close. 

Unfortunately for New York, Jake Bird was tagged for five earned runs as Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman each drove in a run. 

With the win, the Dodgers improve to 63-36. 

They will look to sweep the doubleheader later on Sunday afternoon with a slated bullpen game. 

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