Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an impressive performance, pitching eight innings and allowing only two runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers secured an 8-2 victory over the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night.
In a remarkable display, Yamamoto set a unique record for the Dodgers, throwing 19 consecutive strikes at the start of the game, a feat unmatched by any other Dodgers pitcher since pitch-tracking data became available in 2000.
This outing marked Yamamoto’s third consecutive quality start, showcasing his growing reliability on the mound. He became only the second pitcher on the Dodgers’ roster to pitch beyond the seventh inning, while also lowering his earned-run average to 2.79.
His performance reflects a significant turnaround from his earlier struggles in South Korea, suggesting that he is evolving into the dependable starter the Dodgers envisioned when they signed him to a lucrative $325 million contract over 12 years before his Major League Baseball debut.
Despite conceding a home run to Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the first pitch, Yamamoto remained aggressive against the Marlins’ lineup, with an impressive 73 of his 97 pitches finding the strike zone.
When asked about Yamamoto’s performance, Manager Dave Roberts summed it up in a single word.
“Fan-tas-tic,” he said. “Really great job.”
The manager also said Yamamoto is “starting to become that guy.”
“But again, [we want him to] just go out there and keep doing what he’s been doing,” Roberts added. “Because it’s been really good.”
