Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a much-needed clean start, but Will Smith was the hero as LA secured a 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
Smith got the high praise for his pinch-hit, game-winning blast to left-center field. But Yamamoto was definitely on his game while doing his best to keep Diamondbacks hitters in check.
Yamamoto struck out 10 batters in his time on the mound. He went seven innings and only allowed one earned run. Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott, though, gave up a game-tying, three-run homer in the eighth inning, locking the score at 4-4. Scott recorded his eighth blown save this season.
Blake Treinan, 1-2, worked the ninth for Los Angeles, setting things up for Smith's heroics.
But let's dig a little deeper into Yamamoto's outing. Besides those 10 strikeouts, he gave up four hits and that one earned run. He lowered his ERA to 2.82, according to Baseball Reference. Yamamoto threw 98 pitches, 70 for strikes. Nineteen of his strikes were swinging, while 20 were looking.
Nine outs were on ground balls while six were flyball outs. After Sunday's game, Yamamoto has a 1.050 WHIP.
Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) on X
Yoshinobu Yamamoto on his start today, and why he’s been so effective this late into the season, despite the fact this is the most starts he’s made in a single season in his entire career.
"Overall, all my pitches were pretty good," Yamamoto said after the game through his interpreter. "My fastball was good. That's why I was able to make my splitter stand out."
Watching Yamamoto go out and do his best to keep Los Angeles in the game was probably a welcome sign to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. It would be quite good if Yamamoto can replicate this type of start as the final month of this MLB season is upon teams in contention.
The victory put Los Angeles up two games over the San Diego Padres in the National League West Division. The Dodgers needed to have that victory in the series finale against Arizona.
Los Angeles will take Monday off before opening a three-game road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The Dodgers then move along for another three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.